When you open a SharePoint Communication Site, some web parts display as empty white boxes with no content. This issue appears most often with the Hero, News, and Events web parts. The root cause is typically a permission misconfiguration or a missing content source. This article explains why these web parts go blank and provides a step-by-step fix to restore them.
Key Takeaways: Fixing Blank Web Parts on a Communication Site
- Site permissions > Share > Send: Ensure visitors have at least Read access to the site where web parts pull content.
- News web part settings: Verify the source site is not restricted and that news posts are published, not drafts.
- Hero web part image URLs: Check that linked images are stored in a library with shared access to all site visitors.
Why Communication Site Web Parts Show as Blank
Blank web parts on a Communication Site homepage are not a sign of a broken site. They occur because the web part cannot retrieve the content it is configured to display. The most common reasons are:
Permission Gaps for Content Sources
Many web parts, such as News and Events, pull data from other sites or libraries. If the visitor does not have at least Read permission on the source site, the web part appears blank. This happens frequently when the source is a different site collection or a hub site.
Missing or Deleted Content
A web part may be configured to show a specific news post, event, or image that has been deleted or moved. The web part does not display an error; it simply shows a blank area.
Draft Items Not Approved
News web parts and Events web parts only show published items by default. If the content is still in draft or pending approval, the web part remains empty for most visitors.
Restricted Image or File Access
Hero web parts and Image web parts link to files stored in document libraries. If the library has unique permissions that exclude site visitors, the image does not load and the web part appears blank.
Steps to Diagnose and Fix Blank Web Parts
- Identify which web parts are blank
Browse the homepage as a visitor who has the issue. Note the exact web parts that show blank. Common culprits are Hero, News, Events, Quick links, and Highlighted content. - Check the web part properties
Edit the page and select the blank web part. Open its property pane (the pencil icon). Look for the source site URL or content source. If the source is another site, verify you have access to that site. - Verify permissions on the source site
Go to the source site listed in the web part properties. Navigate to Site permissions > Share. Add the users or groups who see blank web parts with at least Read access. - Confirm content is published
For News web parts, open the site pages library. Check the status of the news posts. If any are in Draft or Pending approval, publish them. For Events, ensure the event is not marked as a draft in the Events list. - Check image and file links
For Hero or Image web parts, note the image URL. Open that URL directly in a browser. If you get an access denied error, the file library has unique permissions. Adjust the library permissions to include visitors. - Clear the browser cache
After making permission changes, clear the browser cache. In Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete, select Cached images and files, and click Clear data. Reload the site.
If Web Parts Still Appear Blank After the Main Fix
Web part shows blank only for external users
External users (guests) often see blank web parts because the source site is not shared with them. Go to the source site, click Share, and add the external user’s email as a guest with Read access. Allow up to 30 minutes for permissions to sync.
News web part blank after moving a site
If you moved the Communication Site to a different hub, the News web part may lose its connection. Edit the News web part, click Change source, and reselect the site. Save and republish the page.
Quick links web part shows blank links
Quick links do not display if the link URL points to a deleted item or a site the user cannot access. Edit the Quick links web part and remove any broken links. Add new links that point to accessible content.
Blank Web Parts vs Missing Content: Key Differences
| Item | Blank Web Parts | Missing Content |
|---|---|---|
| Visual appearance | White empty box with no error | Web part shows a placeholder or error icon |
| Cause | Permission or source content missing | Web part was deleted or never configured |
| Fix | Check permissions and publish content | Add content to the web part or reconfigure |
| User experience | Blank space on the page | Web part may show “No items to display” |
You can now identify and fix blank web parts on your Communication Site homepage. Start by checking permissions on the source site and confirming that all content is published. For persistent issues, review the web part property pane for broken links or mismatched source URLs. An advanced tip: use the SharePoint PnP PowerShell module to audit web part permissions across multiple sites with a single script.