SharePoint & Teams Collaboration
Navigating a SharePoint Site
This guide shows you how to navigate a SharePoint site so you can find the document libraries, lists, and pages you need quickly and confidently.
Time needed
10 minutes
Platform
Microsoft 365
Guide steps
3 clear sections
Before you begin
You have access to at least one SharePoint site in your organisation.
Follow along
Step-by-step guide
Open a SharePoint site
- Instruction 1: Go to portal.office.com and click the SharePoint tile, or type your SharePoint site URL directly into your browser.
- Instruction 2: The site home page loads, showing the site name at the top and a navigation menu on the left (or across the top, depending on how the site is configured).
Action map
Open a SharePoint site
- 01
Go to portal.office.com and click the SharePoint tile, or type your SharePoint site URL…
- 02
The site home page loads, showing the site name at the top and a navigation menu on the…
Visual guide
Use this visual action map alongside the written instructions above.
Open SharePoint help & learning for Navigating a SharePoint SiteFind document libraries
- Instruction 1: Click Documents (or a library name) in the left-hand navigation. This opens the main document library.
- Instruction 2: A document library works like a folder on your computer — you can see files and subfolders. Click a folder to open it, click a file name to open the file.
- Instruction 3: Some sites have multiple libraries for different types of content (e.g. 'Project Files', 'Finance Documents'). Look in the left navigation for additional library links.
Use the Search and site contents
- Instruction 1: Use the search bar at the top of the SharePoint page to search for files across the site.
- Instruction 2: To see everything on the site, click the Settings cog (top-right) and choose Site contents. This shows all document libraries, lists, and apps on the site.
- Instruction 3: If you cannot find what you are looking for, ask the site owner or contact the helpdesk.
Quick fixes
Troubleshooting
The navigation looks different from what I expect
Each SharePoint site is customised by its owner, so navigation menus vary between sites. Look for a 'Documents' or 'Files' link. If you are completely lost, click the site name/logo at the top to return to the home page.
I get an 'Access denied' message
You do not have permission to view that page or library. Click the Request Access button if it appears, or contact the site owner or helpdesk to request access.
Still need a hand?
Our support team can help with Microsoft 365.
Tell us where you got stuck and what you see on screen.