When you click a link in the SharePoint home site app bar, it may open a different site than expected. This problem typically occurs when the app bar link is configured with an incorrect URL or when the link points to a site that has been renamed or moved. This article explains why the app bar link redirects to the wrong site and provides step-by-step instructions to correct the link URL.
The root cause is often a stale or malformed URL stored in the app bar configuration. SharePoint does not automatically update app bar links when a site URL changes. You must manually edit the link to point to the correct destination.
You will learn how to identify the faulty link, edit the app bar navigation, and verify that the link now opens the intended site. The fix takes less than five minutes and requires SharePoint administrator permissions.
Key Takeaways: Fix a Home Site App Bar Link That Opens the Wrong Site
- SharePoint admin center > Active sites > Home site: Access the home site settings to edit the app bar navigation.
- Global navigation > Edit: Locate the broken link and update the URL to the correct site address.
- Save and refresh the page: Verify the link now opens the intended site after saving changes.
Why the Home Site App Bar Link Opens the Wrong Site
The home site app bar displays global navigation links across SharePoint sites in your tenant. When you set up a home site, you can add custom links to the app bar. Each link stores a target URL. If that URL becomes outdated, the link will redirect to a site that no longer matches the intended destination.
Common reasons for an incorrect target include:
- The target site was renamed, changing its URL.
- The target site was deleted and recreated with a different URL.
- The link was manually typed with a typo or wrong path.
- The link was copied from an old bookmark that pointed to a different site.
SharePoint does not validate or update these URLs automatically. The link continues to point to the old address until you edit it. The fix requires editing the global navigation settings for the home site.
Steps to Correct the App Bar Link URL
Follow these steps to find the broken link and replace it with the correct URL. You need SharePoint administrator permissions or at least site owner permissions on the home site.
- Open the SharePoint admin center
Sign in to Microsoft 365 with an account that has SharePoint administrator role. Go to the SharePoint admin center at https://admin.microsoft.com/SharePoint. - Navigate to Active sites
In the left navigation, click Active sites. Find your home site in the list. The home site is marked with a badge that says Home site. - Open the home site settings
Click the name of the home site. In the panel that opens, click the Settings tab. Scroll down to the Home site section and click Change home site settings. - Edit global navigation
In the home site settings page, locate the Global navigation section. Click Edit. This opens the navigation editor where you see all app bar links. - Identify the broken link
Look through the list of links. Each link shows a display name and a URL. Find the link that opens the wrong site. Click the pencil icon next to that link to edit it. - Update the URL to the correct site
In the edit panel, replace the existing URL with the correct address of the target site. For example, if the link should point to https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/Marketing, type that exact URL. Leave the display name as is or update it if needed. - Save the changes
Click Save in the edit panel. Then click Save again in the global navigation section. The changes take effect immediately. - Test the link
Open a new browser tab and navigate to any SharePoint site in your tenant. The app bar should appear at the top. Click the link you just edited. Verify it opens the correct site.
If the App Bar Link Still Opens the Wrong Site
SharePoint app bar link shows old site after editing
If the link still redirects to the old site after you save, clear your browser cache. Press Ctrl+F5 on Windows or Cmd+Shift+R on Mac to force a refresh. Then test the link again. If the problem persists, check that the URL you entered does not include a trailing slash or extra characters.
App bar link disappears after editing
If the link disappears after you save, you may have accidentally deleted it. Reopen the global navigation editor and add the link again. Use the Add link button to create a new entry with the correct URL.
Home site app bar does not appear for all users
The app bar only shows on modern SharePoint sites and Microsoft 365 group-connected sites. Classic sites do not display the app bar. Users must also have the SharePoint home site feature enabled in their tenant. Verify that the home site is set correctly in the SharePoint admin center.
| Item | Before Fix | After Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Link display name | Marketing Hub | Marketing Hub |
| Target URL | https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/OldMarketing | https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/Marketing |
| Result after clicking | Opens old marketing site (wrong site) | Opens current marketing site (correct site) |
You can now correct any home site app bar link that opens the wrong site. The key step is editing the global navigation in the home site settings and replacing the outdated URL. After saving, test the link in a private browser window to confirm the fix works. For advanced scenarios, consider using SharePoint PowerShell to bulk-update multiple app bar links if your tenant has many home sites.