In SharePoint Online, you can apply Site Templates (formerly known as “Site Designs”) to existing sites to quickly configure settings, layouts, lists, libraries, and more. This helps maintain consistency across different sites.
Using PnP PowerShell, you can easily apply a Site Template to an existing site without manually configuring everything through the SharePoint Admin Center.
Prerequisites
Before you proceed, ensure the following:
You have SharePoint Admin or Site Owner permissions.
You have PnP PowerShell installed.
You are connected to SharePoint Online.
Step 1: Install and Import PnP PowerShell
If you haven’t installed PnP PowerShell, install it using:
Install-Module -Name PnP.PowerShell -Scope CurrentUser -AllowClobber -Force
Then, import the module:
Import-Module PnP.PowerShell
Step 2: Connect to SharePoint Online
To manage Site Templates, first connect to SharePoint Online:
Connect-PnPOnline -Url "https://yourtenant-admin.sharepoint.com" -Interactive
Replace "yourtenant" with your actual tenant name.
For app-based authentication, use:
Connect-PnPOnline -Url "https://yourtenant-admin.sharepoint.com" -ClientId "Your-App-Client-ID" -Tenant "yourtenant.onmicrosoft.com" -CertificatePath "Path\To\Certificate.pfx"
Step 3: List Available Site Templates
Before applying a Site Template, check which templates are available in your tenant:
Get-PnPSiteTemplate
This command returns a list of built-in and custom Site Templates with their IDs and Titles.
Step 4: Apply a Site Template to an Existing Site
Once you have identified the Site Template you want to use, apply it to an existing SharePoint site using:
Invoke-PnPSiteDesign -Identity "<SiteTemplateID>" -WebUrl "https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/YourSite"
🔹 Replace "<SiteTemplateID>" with the ID of the Site Template you want to apply.
🔹 Replace "YourSite" with the actual site name.
The Site Template configurations will be applied automatically.
Step 5: Verify the Applied Site Template
To confirm that the Site Template was successfully applied:
Get-PnPSiteDesignRun -WebUrl "https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/YourSite"
This command shows the status of applied Site Templates on the given site.
Step 6: Remove a Site Template from an Existing Site
If you need to remove or reset an applied Site Template:
Remove-PnPSiteDesign -Identity "<SiteTemplateID>"
This removes the Site Template, but any created lists, libraries, or changes made by the template will remain.
Common Errors & Troubleshooting
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
No Site Templates found | No custom templates exist | Use Get-PnPSiteTemplate to list available templates |
Access Denied | Insufficient permissions | Ensure you have SharePoint Admin or Site Owner access |
The specified Site Template does not exist | Wrong ID | Verify the Site Template ID using Get-PnPSiteTemplate |
Cannot connect to SharePoint Online | Authentication issues | Use -Interactive login or App-based authentication |
Step 7: Disconnect the PowerShell Session
After applying the Site Template, securely disconnect the session:
Disconnect-PnPOnline
This prevents unauthorized access.