Cannot access SharePoint site

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: Cannot access SharePoint site. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Overview

SharePoint is used for team collaboration, document storage, and internal websites. If you can’t access a SharePoint site, try the solutions below.

Quick Checks

1. Verify the URL

• Make sure you are using the correct site address.
• Typical format: https://companyname.sharepoint.com/sites/sitename
• If you are unsure, contact the site owner for the exact URL.

2. Check Your Connection

• Confirm you have internet access.
• Try loading a regular website such as google.com.
• If other sites won’t load, see the article Browser not loading pages.

3. Check SharePoint Service Status

Visit status.office.com to see if Microsoft 365 services are experiencing issues.

Troubleshooting Steps

Step 1: Sign Out and Back In

1. Click your profile picture in SharePoint.
2. Select Sign out.
3. Close all browser tabs.
4. Reopen the SharePoint link.
5. Sign in with your Microsoft 365 credentials.

Step 2: Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

For Chrome or Edge:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
2. Choose “All time” for the time range.
3. Check Cookies and Cached images and files.
4. Click Clear data.
5. Refresh the SharePoint page.

For detailed instructions, see How to clear browser cache/cookies.

Step 3: Try a Different Browser

• Switch from Chrome to Edge (or vice‑versa).
• Try Firefox or Safari.
• This helps identify browser‑specific issues.

Step 4: Check Permissions

You need appropriate permissions to access a SharePoint site:

• Visitor: Can view content.
• Member: Can contribute content.
• Owner: Full control of the site.

Request access:

1. Navigate to the SharePoint site.
2. Click Request access (usually appears if you lack permission).
3. Enter a reason for access.
4. Click Send request.

Common Issues & Solutions

Access via File Explorer (OneDrive)

To work with SharePoint documents in File Explorer:

1. Ensure the OneDrive sync client is installed on your device.
2. Open the OneDrive app (not the web site).
3. Locate the SharePoint library and click Sync.
4. The library will appear in File Explorer under the OneDrive folder.

Still Can’t Access?

If the above steps do not resolve the issue, Open a Ticket and provide:

• The exact URL of the site.
• The error message you are seeing.
• Screenshots of the issue.
• Your Microsoft 365 email address.

Still Having Issues?