How do I create a template from a SharePoint Site I built

Question

I have built a couple of SharePoint sites for a company I consult to and would like to know how to convert them into templates for them to recreate from a template when needed? I have tried the Q&A Assist instructions but do not have the option to 'Save site as a template'.

Answer 1

Hi @Jason Nelson, 

Welcome to the Q&A Community 

I’m here to assist with your problem. 

Thank you for reaching out with your question about creating templates from your existing SharePoint sites. I understand you've tried the Q&A instructions but couldn't find the "Save site as template" option - this is common in modern SharePoint Online, where that feature has been replaced by more advanced methods like site scripts and designs.  

To provide the most accurate guidance tailored to your setup, could you please clarify the following: 

• What type of SharePoint sites have you built (e.g., team sites, communication sites, or something else)? 
• Are these sites in SharePoint Online (cloud-based via Microsoft 365) or an on-premises version, and do you have SharePoint admin access or just site owner permissions? 
• What specific elements from the sites do you want to include in the template (e.g., lists, libraries, pages, branding/themes, or custom web parts)? 

I wanted to inform you that SharePoint sites come with a variety of pre-built templates that are readily available, allowing you to easily review and select the one that best meets your specific requirements.

You can explore these options and find detailed examples in the following articles: Using site templates for Microsoft SharePoint in Microsoft 365 

Apply and customize SharePoint site templates - Microsoft Support 

If you have admin access, install the SharePoint Online Management Shell and run commands like Get-SPOSiteScriptFromWeb to extract a JSON schema from your site, then create a script and design from it. This will make the template available when users create new sites under "From your organization". For more guidance on how to do this, please refer to these resources: 

Get started creating SharePoint site templates and site scripts | Microsoft Learn  

SharePoint site template and site script overview | Microsoft Learn 

Customize default site templates in SharePoint | Microsoft Learn  

We appreciate your kind patience and understanding that sometimes the initial response may not immediately resolve the issue or there may be some misunderstandings about your scenario, but we would love to hear updates from you and find out further suggestions. 

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