What a SharePoint site is and why you might create one
A SharePoint site is a workspace where your team stores documents, shares information, and works together on projects — all in one place instead of scattered across email and individual computers. When you create a SharePoint site, you're building a container that holds folders, lists, calendars, and pages that everyone on your team can access from anywhere.
You create a SharePoint site when you need a central location for a specific project, department, or group. For example, a marketing team might create one site for a product launch, a department might create one for all their shared files, or a project team might create one to track tasks and important date in one place.
SharePoint is part of Microsoft 365 (the subscription service that includes Word, Excel, and Outlook). If your organization uses Microsoft 365, you likely already have the ability to create a site — you just need to know where to start.
Key Takeaways
- You create a SharePoint site from the Microsoft 365 app launcher or directly from SharePoint.microsoft.com, and the process takes about five minutes.
- You choose between a Team Site (connected to a Microsoft Teams group) or a Communication Site (for sharing information one-way, like a company newsletter or project announcement).
- The person who creates the site becomes the owner and can add team members, set permissions, and decide what content goes where.
- After creation, you add content by uploading files to the Documents library, creating lists to track tasks or data, or building pages to display information.
Starting from the Microsoft 365 app launcher
The fastest way to create a SharePoint site is through the app launcher — the grid of nine dots in the top left corner of any Microsoft 365 page. Click that grid, then look for and click SharePoint (it may say "SharePoint" or show a SharePoint icon).
Once you're on the SharePoint home page, look for a button that says Create site or + Create. Click it. You'll see two options: Team site and Communication site. Choose Team site if your group will actively collaborate and need to work on documents together. Choose Communication site if you're mainly sharing information one-way — like posting updates, announcements, or a project overview that people read but don't edit.
After you pick the site type, you'll enter a site name (something like "Product Launch 2024" or "Marketing Team Files"), a site description (optional but helpful), and choose a language. Then click Next.
Adding team members and setting permissions
After you create the site, you'll be asked to add team members. Type the names or email addresses of people who should have access. You can add people now or skip this step and add them later — it doesn't matter.
When you add someone, SharePoint automatically gives them permission to view and edit content on the site (unless you change that later). If you want someone to only view the site without editing, or if you want to make someone an owner so they can manage the site with you, you can adjust permissions after the site is created by going to Site settings and then Site permissions.
The person who creates the site is automatically the owner. Owners can add or remove people, change what content is visible, and delete the site if needed.
Understanding Team Sites versus Communication Sites
A Team Site is built for groups that work together. It connects automatically to a Microsoft Teams channel (if your organization uses Teams), so your team can chat about the work while also storing files and tracking tasks in one place. Team sites work best when multiple people need to edit documents, update lists, or manage a project together.
A Communication Site is built for sharing information. It has a cleaner, more polished look and is designed for one-way sharing — like a company announcement, a project status page, or a knowledge base. Communication sites don't connect to Teams, and they're better when you want to control what gets posted and keep the focus on reading rather than collaborating.
You can change your mind later. If you create a Team Site but realize you only need to share information, you can adjust how people use it. If you create a Communication Site and later need more collaboration, you can add lists and libraries to make it more interactive.
Adding content after the site is created
Once your site exists, you'll see a home page with sections for Documents, News, and other content. To add files, click Documents (or Files, depending on your site type), then click Upload and select the files from your computer. You can also create folders to organize files by project, month, or team member.
To track tasks or data, you can create a List. Click + New on the home page, select List, and choose a template (like Task List, Issue Tracker, or Contacts). Lists let you assign tasks to people, set due dates, and track progress without using a separate tool.
To build a custom page that displays information, news, or links, click + New and select Page. You can add text, images, links, and even embed videos or other content. Pages are useful for project overviews, team announcements, or instructions that everyone needs to see.
Controlling who can see what on your site
By default, everyone you add to the site can see all the content. If you need to hide certain documents or lists from some people, you can set permissions on individual items. Right-click a file or folder, select Share, and choose who can access it and what they can do (view only, or edit).
You can also make your site public so anyone with the link can view it (but not edit), or keep it private so only people you add can access it. To change this, go to Site settings, click Site permissions, and look for Sharing settings.
If you're sharing sensitive information, keep the site private and add only the people who need access. If you're sharing a project update or announcement that anyone in your organization should see, you can make it public or share the link widely.
Troubleshooting common setup problems
If you don't see a Create site button, your organization may have restricted who can create sites. Contact your IT department or manager — they can either give you permission or create the site for you.
If you add someone to the site but they say they can't see it, they may not have refreshed their browser. Ask them to close and reopen their browser, or wait a few minutes — permissions sometimes take a moment to sync. If they still can't see it, check that you added them with the correct email address.
If you want to delete a site you created, go to Site settings, scroll to the bottom, and click Delete this site. This removes the site and all its content permanently, so only do this if you're certain you don't need it anymore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a SharePoint site if my organization uses Microsoft 365?
Most organizations that use Microsoft 365 allow employees to create sites, but some restrict this to managers or IT staff. Check with your IT department or try creating one — if you don't have permission, you'll see a message telling you to contact your administrator.
What's the difference between a SharePoint site and a Microsoft Teams channel?
A Teams channel is for conversation and quick file sharing within a chat. A SharePoint site is for organizing documents, tracking tasks, and building pages. A Team Site connects to Teams automatically, so you get both in one place — chat in Teams and organized files and lists in SharePoint.
Can I change the site name or description after I create it?
Yes. Go to Site settings (usually a gear icon in the top right), click Site information, and edit the name or description. Changes take effect when ready.
Do I need to pay extra to create a SharePoint site?
No. If your organization already pays for Microsoft 365, creating a SharePoint site is included. You don't pay per site or per user.
What happens if I add someone to the site by mistake?
Go to Site settings, click Site permissions, find their name, and click the checkbox next to it, then click Remove. They'll lose access when ready.