Disabling SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure in Root Prevents Sub-Sites from Inheriting Navigation

Question

Please refer to this answered question for context: Option to change the Navigation is not available under Change the look - Microsoft Community

The Sharepoint root site and all sub sites I am managing were experiencing this issue. As described in the question, deactivating SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure at the root site fixed the issue and caused the navigation link to appear in change the look for the root site and all sub sites. Further, the quick launch navigation can now be changed to horizontal for root site and sub sites. However, since disabling Sharepoint Server Publishing Infrastructure, I am no longer able make a subsite inherit navigation from the root site. The navigation link under look and feel is no longer available:

Is there a way to work around this? I would like to maintain horizontal navigation and inherit navigation on subsites.

I have tried a workaround that involves adding the Navigation page path to the site url. This successfully brings up the page where you can set the subsite to inherit navigation, however, any changes made here do not propagate.

Answer 1

Dear JSAO,

Thanks for your updates.

Yes, it needs the administrator right.

Welcome to share any updates at your convenience.

Thanks for your effort and time.

Sincerely

Cliff | Microsoft Community Moderator

Answer 2

Thanks for the response! I'm assuming the use of PnP scripts would require an admin role in my org, so I will look into this and let you know if we are able to deploy the fix!

Answer 3

Dear JSAO,

The Navigation link is showed only when the SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure feature is enabled via the out-of-the-box way.

However, you can enable the navigation link via SharePoint Online PnP scripts on root sites and subsites.

1. Install PnP Online from the steps in PnP PowerShell Overview | Microsoft Learn.
2. Run the following scripts with the administrator right.

#Parameters
$SiteURL = "root site URL or subsite URL(the site where you want to enable Navigation under Change and Look"
$FeatureId = "89e0306d-453b-4ec5-8d68-42067cdbf98e" #Navigation Feature ID
$FeatureScope = "Site"

Connect to SharePoint Online site

Connect-PnPOnline -Url $SiteUrl -Interactive

Get Feature from SharePoint site

$Feature = Get-PnPFeature -Scope $FeatureScope -Identity $FeatureId

Check if feature is already activated

If($Feature.DefinitionId -eq $null) { 
    Write-host "Activating Feature ($FeatureId)..."

    # Activate the feature
    Enable-PnPFeature -Scope $FeatureScope -Identity $FeatureId -Force

    Write-host -f Green "Feature ($FeatureId) has been activated Successfully!"
}
Else {
    Write-host "Feature ($FeatureId) is already active on this site!"
}

3. Refresh the page to see the result.

Welcome to share any updates at your convenience.

Thanks for your effort and time.

Sincerely

Cliff | Microsoft Community Moderator