The “Unable to Edit Page” issue in SharePoint occurs when a user is unable to edit a SharePoint page due to permissions, page locks, workflow restrictions, or technical errors. This can happen in SharePoint Online, SharePoint 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, or classic and modern pages.
This guide provides detailed troubleshooting steps to fix the issue.
1. Check and Verify User Permissions
If a user cannot edit a SharePoint page, they might not have the necessary permissions.
Steps to Check Permissions:
- Go to SharePoint Site.
- Click Settings (⚙) > Site Settings.
- Under Users and Permissions, click Site Permissions.
- Find the user’s name and check their permission level.
- Users need “Edit” or “Design” permissions to modify pages.
- If missing, click Grant Permissions and assign the correct role.
Fix: Assign Edit Permissions
- For a Specific Page:
- Open Site Contents > Site Pages.
- Find the page, click … (Ellipsis) > Manage Access.
- Ensure the user has Can Edit access.
- For a Library (Modern Pages):
- Navigate to Site Contents > Site Pages.
- Click Library Settings > Permissions for this document library.
- Ensure the correct permission inheritance is set.
2. Check if the Page is Checked Out
If the page is checked out to another user, you cannot edit it.
Check and Discard Check Out:
- Go to Site Contents > Site Pages.
- Find the page and look for a checked-out icon (green arrow).
- Click …” (Ellipsis) > More > Discard Check Out (if necessary).
3. Check for Page Approval or Publishing Restrictions
In publishing sites, approval workflows may prevent users from editing.
Check for Approval Requirements:
- Go to Library Settings > Versioning Settings.
- Look for “Require content approval for submitted items”.
- If enabled, only Approvers can edit the page.
Fix: Approve or Remove Workflow Restrictions
- Navigate to Workflows under the Site Pages Library.
- Check if a Page Approval Workflow is active.
- If necessary, end the workflow or request approval.
4. Check if the Page is Locked or Checked In
If the page is locked due to an incomplete editing session, users cannot modify it.
Fix: Unlock the Page
- Open the page URL in the browser.
- Append
?contents=1at the end of the URL:https://yoursharepointsite.com/SitePages/Home.aspx?contents=1 - If Web Parts are causing an issue, remove or reset them.
5. Check if the Page is Read-Only
Some pages may be marked as read-only.
Fix: Remove Read-Only Mode
- For Classic Pages:
- Go to Page Properties > Check if “Read-Only” is enabled.
- Change it to Editable.
- For Modern Pages:
- If the page is part of a template, duplicate it and edit the new copy.
6. Verify Master Page and Custom Script Settings
If the Master Page is broken, editing may be restricted.
Fix: Enable Custom Scripting
- Run the following PowerShell command:
Set-SPOSite -Identity https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com -DenyAddAndCustomizePages 0 - Wait 15–30 minutes and try editing again.
7. Restore Page to an Earlier Version
If recent changes corrupted the page, restore a previous version.
Steps to Restore a Page Version:
- Open the Site Pages Library.
- Click …” (Ellipsis) > Version History.
- Find a working version and click Restore.
8. Check if the Page is Associated with a Hub Site
Some pages in Hub Sites or Communication Sites may have restrictions.
Fix: Edit Page in Another Site or Unlink the Hub Site
- Try editing from a different site collection.
- If necessary, remove Hub Site association under Site Settings.
9. Edit Page in Internet Explorer (IE) Mode
Older SharePoint versions require Internet Explorer (IE) mode.
Steps:
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click Settings > Default Browser.
- Enable “Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode”.
- Reload the SharePoint page in IE Mode.
10. Contact IT or Microsoft Support
If the issue persists:
- Check ULS logs or Correlation ID errors.
- Try editing from a different browser or network.
- Contact IT for deeper SharePoint settings review.