How To Delete A View In SharePoint: Simple Click-Through Method

Deleting a SharePoint view is simpler than most users expect. I’ve cleaned up dozens of outdated views across team sites, and the process takes under a minute once you know where to look.

The key is accessing the right settings menu—modern and classic experiences handle this differently. You’ll need at least design permissions, but the steps remain consistent across SharePoint Online and on-premises.

No special tools or scripts required. Just navigate to the list, open view settings, and remove what’s no longer needed. The interface guides you the rest of the way.

This method prevents clutter without affecting the underlying list data. Works for any view type, custom or default, and leaves your workflows intact.

What Youll Need

Instructions

Here’s the procedure I follow to remove unwanted views without disrupting the list structure.

Open your SharePoint site and locate the list or library containing the view you want to delete. I always start from the site homepage and use the left navigation or the Site Contents page to find my target. This avoids confusion with similarly named lists.

Click the list name to open it. Verify you’re in the correct location by checking the URL—it should end with /Lists/[YourListName] or /Documents/[YourLibraryName]. The breadcrumb trail at the top also helps confirm your position.

In the list or library, look for the current view name displayed in the top-left corner next to the list title. Click this dropdown menu to reveal all available views. This is where many users get stuck—they don’t realize the view name itself is a clickable element.

At the bottom of this dropdown, you’ll see Edit current view or Create view options. To the far right of the view name in the dropdown, there’s a small … (ellipsis) icon. Click this to access view management options.

From the ellipsis menu, select View settings. This opens the view configuration page. Scroll to the bottom where all views are listed. Here’s the thing—you can’t delete the current view, so first switch to a different view using the dropdown.

Once you’ve selected a different view, scroll to the Views section and click the name of the view you want to remove. On its settings page, click Delete in the top ribbon. Confirm the deletion when prompted—this action can’t be undone.

Return to the list and confirm the view no longer appears in the dropdown menu. I always check both the dropdown and the All Site Content page to be absolutely sure. Sometimes views persist in caches, so a page refresh might be necessary.

If you don’t see the delete option, you likely lack sufficient permissions. You’ll need Design or Full Control permissions to delete views. Contact your SharePoint administrator if the option remains unavailable.

Tips and Common Mistakes

These practical insights will help you navigate the deletion process smoothly and avoid common pitfalls.

Navigation Shortcut: In Step 1, instead of scrolling through the left navigation, use the Site Contents page directly—it displays all lists and libraries in one view. I’ve found this saves significant time, especially in sites with complex structures. Also, always double-check the URL to confirm you’re in the correct list or library before proceeding.

Menu Access Clarity: For Step 2, the view name dropdown might be subtle depending on your SharePoint theme. If you don’t see it immediately, look for a small downward arrow or the current view name in a slightly different font. The ellipsis icon is often overlooked—it’s tiny but critical for accessing the View settings.

Deletion Workaround: Step 3’s requirement to switch views before deleting is a common stumbling block. If you try to delete the current view, the option simply won’t appear. Always select a different view first, even if it’s just the default All Items view. This ensures the Delete button becomes available in the ribbon.

Permission Check: Before starting, verify you have Design or Full Control permissions. If the Delete option is grayed out in Step 3, you’ll need to contact your SharePoint admin. I learned this the hard way after attempting to delete a view without the necessary access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Deleting a view in SharePoint is a simple process once you know the steps. With the right permissions, you can clean up your lists and libraries in minutes. Now that you’ve mastered this, why not explore customizing views to better fit your workflow? 🎯