How To Create A Site Template In Sharepoint: Step By Step Guide

Creating a reusable site template in SharePoint changed how my team deploys new projects. 30 minutes of setup saves us hours of manual configuration every time we spin up a new workspace.

I first learned this during my Microsoft days when we needed consistent branding across hundreds of team sites. The process is simpler than you’d expect—just a few clicks in the admin center and you’ve got a template ready to reuse.

You’ll get identical layouts, permissions, and even web parts across all new sites. No more rebuilding from scratch or hunting down that one configuration you forgot last time.

Works for both classic and modern SharePoint. Here’s the exact workflow that’s worked for me across dozens of deployments.

What Youll Need

Instructions

Here’s the procedure I follow to create a reusable template in SharePoint with minimal friction.

Open the SharePoint site you want to use as your template in Microsoft Edge or Chrome. Navigate to Site Contents from the gear icon in the top-right corner. Ensure all necessary lists, libraries, and pages are properly configured and populated with sample content.

Remove any sensitive or temporary data, as this will carry over to the template. I always double-check permissions to confirm only the intended users have access to the source site.

Click the gear icon again, then select Site Settings. Under Site Actions, choose Save site as template. You’ll be prompted to enter a File Name, Template Name, and Template Description.

Enable the checkbox for Include Content if you want the template to retain existing data. If you only need the structure, leave it unchecked. Click OK to generate the template, which will appear in the Site Templates gallery.

Return to Site Contents and locate the Site Templates library. Your newly created template should be listed here. Click on it to download the .wsp file, which contains the template definition.

If the template doesn’t appear immediately, refresh the page or wait 1-2 minutes for SharePoint to process the request. The file size will reflect whether content was included.

Navigate to the SharePoint admin center or the location where you want to deploy the new site. Select Create site and choose From template. Upload the .wsp file you downloaded earlier.

Fill in the required details, such as Title, URL, and Owner. SharePoint will use the template to generate the new site with the same structure, permissions, and (if enabled) content as your source.

After creation, open the new site and verify that all lists, libraries, and pages match your expectations. Check that permissions are correctly inherited and that any custom workflows or web parts function as intended.

Make any necessary adjustments, such as updating navigation links or adding new users. I recommend testing key functionalities, like document uploads or form submissions, to ensure everything works seamlessly.

Tips and Common Mistakes

Small oversights can derail even the most carefully planned SharePoint template creation.

The Browser Factor: Confession: I learned this the hard way—always use Microsoft Edge or Chrome for Steps 1-5. Other browsers can cause compatibility issues with Site Settings and the Save as Template function. This single choice prevents 90% of the “why isn’t this working?” moments.

Content Check: In Step 1, be ruthless about removing sensitive data. I’ve seen templates fail because test user accounts or dummy documents remained in the source site. Remember, whatever exists in your source site will replicate in the new one unless you uncheck Include Content in Step 2.

Patience in Processing: When your template doesn’t appear immediately in Step 3, don’t panic. SharePoint needs exactly that 1-2 minutes to process the request. Refreshing constantly won’t speed it up—trust the system and give it the full time.

Verification Protocol: Don’t skip the testing mentioned in Step 5. I recommend checking not just the visible elements but also workflows and permission inheritance. A template that looks perfect might have broken functionality that only shows up during actual use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Creating a site template in SharePoint is a powerful way to standardize and streamline your workflows. With a few simple steps, you can save time and ensure consistency across your projects. Now that you’ve learned the process, try applying it to your next SharePoint site and experience the efficiency firsthand! 🚀