When you create a custom page template in SharePoint, you expect it to appear in the New menu so users can quickly build pages that match your branding and layout. However, the template sometimes does not show up in the New menu at all, which blocks users from using it and forces them to start from a blank page. This problem usually happens because the template was not published correctly, the content type is not associated with the library, or the site collection feature for page templates is not activated. This article explains the exact steps to ensure your custom page template appears in the New menu and stays available for all site users.
Key Takeaways: Make Your Page Template Visible in the New Menu
- Site Settings > Site Collection Features > Page Templates: Activate this feature to enable page template functionality for the entire site collection.
- Site Pages library > Content Type settings: Add the custom page template content type to the library so it appears in the New menu.
- Page template publishing status: Set the template page to Published or Checked In to make it available to all users, not just the creator.
Why a Page Template Does Not Show in the New Menu
SharePoint page templates are stored as pages inside the Site Pages library. When you create a new page from a template, SharePoint copies the layout, web parts, and content from the template page. For the template to appear in the New menu, three conditions must be met.
First, the site collection feature named Page Templates must be activated. This feature controls whether users can create pages from templates. Without it, the New menu does not show any template options.
Second, the template page must be published with a major version. A draft or checked-out page is visible only to the person who created it. Other site members will not see the template in the New menu.
Third, the content type of the template page must be added to the Site Pages library. SharePoint uses content types to group pages with similar metadata and behavior. If the content type is missing from the library, the New menu does not list the template.
Steps to Make a Page Template Appear in the New Menu
Follow these steps in order. If the template still does not appear after one step, move to the next step.
Step 1: Activate the Page Templates Site Collection Feature
- Open Site Settings
Go to your SharePoint site. Click the gear icon in the top right corner and select Site Settings. If you do not see Site Settings, click Site Information and then View All Site Settings. - Go to Site Collection Features
Under Site Collection Administration, click Site collection features. This page lists all features available for the entire site collection. - Activate Page Templates
Find the feature named Page Templates in the list. Click the Activate button next to it. Wait for the confirmation message. The feature is now enabled for all sites in this site collection.
Step 2: Publish the Template Page
- Navigate to Site Pages
Click Pages in the left navigation or go to Site Contents and open the Site Pages library. - Open the Template Page
Click the template page you created earlier. If you have many pages, use the search box to find the template by name. - Check Out and Edit (if needed)
If the page is checked out to you, click the Edit button and make any final changes. When finished, click Stop Editing. - Publish a Major Version
Click the ellipsis (three dots) next to the page name in the library. Select More and then Publish. In the dialog, confirm that you want to publish a major version. The page status changes to Published.
Step 3: Add the Content Type to the Site Pages Library
- Open Library Settings
In the Site Pages library, click the gear icon and select Library Settings. If you are on a modern page, click the ellipsis in the toolbar and choose Library Settings. - Go to Advanced Settings
Under General Settings, click Advanced settings. This section controls content type management. - Allow Content Type Management
Set the option Allow management of content types to Yes. Click OK to save. - Add the Page Content Type
Back in Library Settings, under Content Types, click Add from existing site content types. In the Select site content types section, choose Page from the list. Click Add and then OK. - Verify the Content Type Appears
Under Content Types in Library Settings, you should now see Page listed. This confirms the content type is associated with the library.
Step 4: Check the New Menu
- Go to Site Pages
Open the Site Pages library again. - Click New
Click the New button in the toolbar. You should now see the template page listed as an option. If you have multiple templates, they all appear here. - Test the Template
Click the template name. SharePoint creates a new page based on the template. Verify that the layout, web parts, and content are copied correctly.
If the Page Template Still Does Not Appear in the New Menu
The template was created in a subsite
Page templates are site collection–level features. If you created the template in a subsite, it will not appear in the New menu of the root site. Move the template page to the root site or create a new template directly in the root site. Then repeat the publishing and content type steps.
The template content type is not visible to all users
If users cannot see the template but you can, check the content type permissions. The Page content type must be set to Visible to all users. Go to Site Settings > Site Content Types. Click Page. Under Settings, set Read to Visible to all users. Save the change.
The browser cache hides the template
SharePoint caches the New menu list. If you activated the feature and published the template but still do not see it, clear your browser cache. In Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete, select Cached images and files, and click Clear data. Reload the SharePoint site.
The template page was deleted or renamed
If the template page is deleted from the Site Pages library, the New menu entry disappears. Restore the page from the Recycle Bin or create a new template. If you renamed the template, the New menu still shows the original name until you update the template association. Delete the old template and create a new one with the correct name.
Page Template Visibility: Feature Activation vs Publishing Status vs Content Type
| Item | Feature Activation | Publishing Status | Content Type in Library |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Enables template creation and usage across the site collection | Controls who can see and use the template page | Associates the template with the library so it appears in the New menu |
| Where to check | Site Settings > Site Collection Features | Site Pages library > template page > version history | Library Settings > Content Types |
| Common mistake | Forgetting to activate the feature for the correct site collection | Leaving the template in Draft or Checked Out | Not adding the Page content type to the library |
| Fix | Activate Page Templates feature | Publish a major version of the template page | Add Page content type from existing site content types |
You can now ensure that any custom page template you create will appear in the New menu for all site users. Start by activating the Page Templates site collection feature, then publish the template page, and finally add the Page content type to the Site Pages library. For advanced scenarios, consider using PowerShell to bulk-publish multiple templates or to check the activation status of the Page Templates feature across all site collections in your tenant.