You created a SharePoint team site but it does not show on the SharePoint Start page. This problem happens when the site lacks the correct association with a Microsoft 365 group or when the site has a custom URL that the Start page does not index. The SharePoint Start page displays only sites that are part of a Microsoft 365 group or that have been promoted to a hub site. This article explains the technical reasons why a team site might be missing from the Start page and provides the exact steps site owners must take to make the site appear.
Key Takeaways: Make Your Team Site Visible on SharePoint Start
- SharePoint admin center > Active sites > site URL > Group connection: A team site must be connected to a Microsoft 365 group to appear on the Start page.
- Site settings > Promote to hub site: Promoting a site to a hub site forces it to appear on the Start page, even without a Microsoft 365 group.
- SharePoint Start page refresh (Ctrl+F5): After making changes, clear the browser cache to force the Start page to reindex the site.
Why a Team Site Is Missing from the SharePoint Start Page
The SharePoint Start page, also called the home page or landing page, shows a list of sites that the current user follows or that are associated with the user’s Microsoft 365 groups. A team site that is not connected to a Microsoft 365 group will not appear in this list. This is by design: the Start page relies on the group membership to determine which sites to display. If the site was created as a classic team site without a group, or if the site was created with a custom URL that bypassed the group provisioning process, the Start page will not show it.
Another cause is that the site was created using a template that does not include a group, such as the “Team site (classic)” template. Even if the site is later connected to a group, the Start page may take up to 24 hours to reflect the change. In some cases, the site is visible to site members but not to site owners because the owner is not a member of the connected group. Finally, if the site is a communication site, it will appear on the Start page only if the user follows it or if it is a hub site.
Microsoft 365 Group Requirement
A SharePoint team site that is connected to a Microsoft 365 group uses the group’s membership list to control access. The Start page queries the Microsoft 365 groups that the signed-in user is a member of and then lists the associated team sites. If the site does not have a group, the Start page has no way to know that the user should see it. This is the most common reason for a missing team site.
Hub Site Promotion
Promoting a site to a hub site overrides the group requirement. Hub sites appear on the Start page for all users who have visited them, regardless of group membership. This is a useful workaround for sites that cannot be connected to a group, but it requires SharePoint admin permissions.
Steps to Make a Team Site Appear on SharePoint Start
- Verify the site is a group-connected team site
Go to the SharePoint admin center athttps://admin.microsoft.com/SharePoint. Select Active sites from the left navigation. Find your team site in the list. Look at the Group connection column. If it shows Connected, the site is already associated with a Microsoft 365 group. If it shows Not connected, you must connect the site to a group. - Connect the site to a Microsoft 365 group (if not connected)
In the SharePoint admin center, select the site row. Click Settings in the command bar. Under Group connection, click Connect to a Microsoft 365 group. Choose an existing group or create a new one. Click Save. Wait up to 30 minutes for the change to propagate. - Add yourself as a member of the connected group
Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center athttps://admin.microsoft.com. Select Teams & groups then Active teams & groups. Find the group that is connected to your site. Select it and click Manage. Add your user account as a member. This ensures the Start page recognizes you as a group member and displays the site. - Promote the site to a hub site (alternative method)
If you cannot connect the site to a group, promote it to a hub site. In the SharePoint admin center, select the site row. Click Hub in the command bar. Click Register as hub site. Enter a display name and description. Click Save. The site will now appear on the Start page for all users. - Refresh the SharePoint Start page
Press Ctrl+F5 in your browser to force a full refresh and clear the cache. Navigate to the SharePoint Start page athttps://www.office.com/?auth=2orhttps://portal.office.com. The site should now appear in the Sites section. If it does not, wait 15 minutes and repeat this step.
If the Site Still Does Not Appear After the Fix
SharePoint Start page shows no sites at all
This can happen if your browser cache is corrupted or if the user profile is not synchronized. Clear the browser cache and cookies. Sign out of Microsoft 365 and sign back in. If the problem persists, ask the global admin to check the user profile in the SharePoint admin center under User profiles.
Site appears for other users but not for me
The most likely cause is that you are not a member of the connected Microsoft 365 group. Even if you are a site owner, the Start page checks group membership, not site permissions. Follow step 3 above to add yourself to the group.
Site was visible before but disappeared
The group that the site is connected to may have been deleted or archived. Check the group status in the Microsoft 365 admin center. If the group was deleted, you must connect the site to a new group. If the group was archived, unarchive it first.
Team Site Connected to Group vs Hub Site: Key Differences
| Item | Group-Connected Team Site | Hub Site |
|---|---|---|
| Appears on Start page for group members | Yes | Yes |
| Appears on Start page for all users | No | Yes, if they have visited the hub |
| Requires Microsoft 365 group | Yes | No |
| Requires SharePoint admin permission | No | Yes |
| Can associate other sites | No | Yes |
A team site that is connected to a Microsoft 365 group will appear on the Start page for all members of that group. A hub site appears on the Start page for any user who has visited it. If you cannot connect the site to a group, promoting it to a hub site is the only way to make it visible. Note that hub sites require SharePoint admin privileges to create.
After you connect the site to a group or promote it to a hub site, the Start page may take up to 24 hours to update. You can speed this up by clearing your browser cache and refreshing the page with Ctrl+F5. If the site still does not appear, verify that you are a member of the connected group and that the group is active.