Something Went Wrong When Opening Site Contents: Root Cause and Fix

When you click Site contents in SharePoint, you may see the error message “Something went wrong” instead of the list of libraries and lists. This problem prevents you from accessing site assets, document libraries, or custom lists. The root cause is usually a damaged view, a corrupted list template, or a missing web part on the Site Contents page. This article explains why the error occurs and provides step-by-step fixes to restore access to your site contents.

Why the Site Contents Page Fails to Load

The Site Contents page in SharePoint is a special view that displays all lists, libraries, and subsites. The page relies on a hidden web part called the Site Contents Web Part. When this web part fails to render, the entire page throws the “Something went wrong” error. The most common technical reasons are:

• Corrupted list template: A custom list template that was uploaded or modified incorrectly can break the view.
• Damaged list or library: A single list with a corrupted schema or missing column can prevent the whole list from loading.
• Missing or broken web part: The Site Contents web part may have been removed or its configuration file may be corrupted.
• Script error in the browser: Browser extensions or outdated cache can interfere with the page rendering.

The error appears suddenly and affects all users with access to the site. It does not affect other site pages such as the home page or document library views. The fix requires identifying the broken component and removing it.

Steps to Fix the Site Contents Error

You need at least Site Owner permissions to perform these steps. If you are a site member, ask your administrator for help.

Method 1: Access Site Contents Directly Using the URL

The Site Contents page is stored at a specific URL path. Accessing it directly can bypass some rendering issues.

1. Open the site URL in your browser
   Navigate to your SharePoint site. The URL looks like https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/yoursite.
2. Append the Site Contents path
   Add /_layouts/15/viewlsts.aspx to the end of the URL. For example: https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/yoursite/_layouts/15/viewlsts.aspx.
3. Press Enter
   The page should load the list of all lists and libraries. If it loads, the error is caused by a broken web part on the default Site Contents page. If it still shows the error, the problem is with a specific list or library.

Method 2: Delete Corrupted List Templates

Custom list templates are stored in the List Template Gallery. A corrupted template can break the Site Contents view.

1. Go to Site Settings
   Click the gear icon on the top right and select Site settings. If the gear menu does not appear, use the URL /_layouts/15/settings.aspx.
2. Open the List Template Gallery
   Under Web Designer Galleries, click List templates. This page shows all uploaded custom list templates with file extension .stp.
3. Delete suspicious templates
   Look for templates with unusual names, dates, or sizes. Click the template name, then click Delete in the ribbon. Confirm the deletion.
4. Test the Site Contents page
   Return to the site home page and click Site contents. If the page loads, the corrupted template was the cause.

Method 3: Remove a Problematic List or Library Using PowerShell

If the error persists and you cannot access the list or library through the web interface, use the SharePoint Online Management Shell to remove the broken item.

1. Install and connect to SharePoint Online Management Shell
   Open Windows PowerShell as administrator. Run Install-Module -Name Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell if not installed. Then run Connect-SPOService -Url https://yourtenant-admin.sharepoint.com and sign in with a Global Admin or SharePoint Admin account.
2. Identify the site collection
   Run Get-SPOSite -Identity https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/yoursite to confirm the site exists.
3. List all lists and libraries
   Run $web = Get-SPOWeb -Site https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/yoursite then $web.Lists | Select Title to see all lists. Look for lists with unusual names or those that appear empty.
4. Remove the suspicious list
   Run Remove-SPOList -Site https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/yoursite -Title "Suspicious List Name". Confirm the deletion. Repeat for any other problematic lists.
5. Test the Site Contents page
   Refresh the site home page and click Site contents. The page should load correctly now.

Method 4: Clear Browser Cache and Disable Extensions

Browser issues can cause the Site Contents page to fail. Clear your cache and disable extensions that modify SharePoint pages.

1. Clear the browser cache
   In Microsoft Edge or Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete. Select Cached images and files and click Clear now.
2. Disable browser extensions
   In Edge, click the puzzle icon, then Manage extensions. Turn off all extensions, especially ad blockers and script blockers.
3. Test in a private window
   Open an InPrivate window (Ctrl+Shift+N) and navigate to the site. Click Site contents. If it works, an extension was the cause. Re-enable extensions one by one to find the culprit.

If SharePoint Still Has Issues After the Main Fix

Site Contents Error Appears on Multiple Sites

If the error appears on more than one site, the problem may be at the tenant level. Check the SharePoint admin center for any service health advisories. Go to Admin centers > SharePoint > Health and look for active incidents. If no incidents are reported, contact Microsoft Support.

Site Contents Page Loads but Shows No Items

This is a different problem. The page loads but appears empty. The cause is usually a permission issue or a broken view. Check that you have at least Read permissions to the site. If you are the site owner, go to Site settings > Site permissions and check the permission levels. Also verify that the default view for the Site Contents page is not deleted.

Error Appears Only in One Browser

If the error occurs only in one browser and not in another, the issue is browser-specific. Clear the cache, reset browser settings, or update the browser to the latest version. If using Internet Explorer, switch to Microsoft Edge.

Direct URL vs Default Site Contents: Access Methods

Item	Direct URL Access	Default Site Contents
URL path	/_layouts/15/viewlsts.aspx	/_layouts/15/start.aspx#/SitePages/Forms/AllItems.aspx
Web part dependency	None	Site Contents Web Part
Best for	Bypassing a broken web part	Everyday use when the web part works
Shows subsites	Yes	Yes
Allows deletion of items	Yes	Yes

The direct URL method is a reliable workaround when the default Site Contents page fails. Use it to access your lists and libraries while you troubleshoot the root cause.

You can now fix the “Something went wrong” error on your SharePoint Site Contents page. Start by using the direct URL to confirm the issue is with the page itself. Then delete corrupted list templates or remove broken lists using PowerShell. If the error persists across multiple sites, check the SharePoint admin center for service health. The direct URL path /_layouts/15/viewlsts.aspx remains the fastest workaround for immediate access.