To create a SharePoint site, go to the SharePoint start page and select Create site. Choose Team site for collaboration or Communication site for broadcasting, pick a template, name the site, set privacy and language, then select Create site and add members.
A SharePoint site is a home for a team's files, pages and lists, and creating one takes a couple of minutes. The decisions that matter come before you click Create: team site or communication site, who can see it and what to call it. Get those wrong and you'll be fixing them later, because some choices, like the site address, are awkward to change. Here is the process and the thinking behind it.
Create a SharePoint site
- On the SharePoint start page, select + Create site.
- Choose a Team site or a Communication site.
- Select the template you want and choose Use template.
- Enter a name for the site. More fields appear as you type: a description, the site address and, for a team site, a group email address.
- If prompted, choose the privacy settings for your site information.
- Select the default language for the site.
- Select Create site, then optionally add members and owners, and select Finish.
Microsoft says a modern SharePoint site is created and ready to use in seconds. If you selected a team site, a Microsoft 365 group is created at the same time.
Team site or communication site?
| Team site | Communication site | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Collaboration on a team or project | Broadcasting information to a broad audience |
| Who adds content | Most or all members | A small set of members |
| Who reads it | The team and chosen stakeholders | A much larger audience |
| Comes with | A Microsoft 365 group, document library and lists | Pages and news for readers |
Microsoft's guidance is simple. Use a team site to collaborate with the people on a specific project. If you want to broadcast information to many people, a communication site is the better choice. A team site includes a group of related pages, a default document library for files, lists for data and web parts you can customise.
The site address rule
When you start typing a name, SharePoint suggests an address. Microsoft says the only symbols allowed are underscores, dashes, single quotes and periods, and the address can't start or end with a period. Think about the address before you create the site, because it appears in links you'll share.
Add content once the site exists
- A document library or list: open the site, select New, then List or Document library, choose Blank and name it in the Create pane.
- A page: select New, then Page, pick a template, name it and build with web parts such as Text, Image, Quick links and News. Select Publish when you're ready.
- Filters: open the filters pane in a list or library to narrow what you see.
If you can't find the SharePoint tile
In Microsoft 365, open the app launcher in the top left and look for the SharePoint tile. If you don't see it, try the More apps tile or search. Microsoft says if neither the SharePoint tile nor the Sites tile appears, your plan may not include SharePoint, and you should contact the person who administers Microsoft 365 in your organisation. In some organisations, self-service site creation is turned off, which has the same effect.
Plan before you build
- Decide the purpose in one sentence. If you can't, wait.
- Choose team or communication.
- Name the site clearly and keep the address short.
- Decide who owns it and who can edit it.
- Sketch the pages and libraries you need before you add them.
Common mistakes
- Making a team site for something that only needs to inform people.
- Giving everyone edit rights, then discovering files have moved.
- Creating many tiny sites instead of one well-organised one.
- Forgetting to publish a page after editing, so visitors see the old version.
For the wider picture, my guide to Microsoft 365 tools for small businesses explains which tools to use together, and Power BI data governance covers controlling access to shared reports.
Permissions: who should see what
Creating the site is the easy part. The decision that causes trouble later is access. A team site is tied to a Microsoft 365 group, so its members are the people who can work in it. A communication site usually has a few editors and many readers. Decide your owners, members and visitors before you invite anyone, and avoid giving everybody full edit rights just to save time. If sensitive files will live on the site, ask your administrator how your organisation expects them to be protected.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
What to build first
- A document library for the files your team shares most.
- A home page that says what the site is for and links to the library.
- A list for anything you track, such as tasks or contacts.
- A short 'how we use this site' page so new members know where things go.
My verdict
Decide team versus communication first, name the site with care, then create it and add a library, a page and a list. Keep ownership clear, and keep your site structure simple.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create a SharePoint site?
On the SharePoint start page select Create site, choose Team or Communication, pick a template, name the site, set privacy and language and select Create site.
What's the difference between a team site and a communication site?
A team site is for collaborating on a project. A communication site is for broadcasting information to a broad audience.
Which characters are allowed in a site address?
Microsoft says underscores, dashes, single quotes and periods, and the address can't start or end with a period.
Why can't I see the SharePoint tile?
Your plan may not include SharePoint, so contact the person who administers Microsoft 365 in your organisation.
How long does creating a site take?
Microsoft says a modern SharePoint site is created and ready for use in seconds.
