Metadata at Jan 23, 2026
Last Updated
Published Dec 15, 2025
Service
Tag
MC1197131 - Retirement of featured links on SharePoint Start Page
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What changed since this version
Updated January 23,June 2, 2026: We are updating this post as a reminder. Featured Links on SharePoint web and the SharePoint mobile app are scheduled to be retired soon. We expect them to be 100% retired by the end of July. Thank you for your patience.
Introduction
We’re retiring the Featured Links capability on the SharePoint Start Page due to low adoption. This change helps streamline SharePoint experiences and reduce complexity for admins and end users. Alternative options, such as global navigation links or Resources in Viva Connections, provide more consistent ways to highlight important content.
Screenshot: The Featured Links option set for retirement appears at the bottom left in this image.
When this will happen:
General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Retirement begins early March 2026 and will complete by late June 2026.
How this affects your organization:
Who is affected: All organizations using Featured Links on the SharePoint Start Page or SharePoint mobile app.
What will happen:
- Admins will no longer be able to create, edit, update, or access Featured Links.
- Existing Featured Links will be removed from the SharePoint Start Page and SharePoint mobile app.
- No impact to other SharePoint navigation features or Viva Connections resources.
What you can do to prepare:
- Review any existing Featured Links and plan alternative navigation options.
- Consider using global navigation links or Resources in Viva Connections to highlight important sites and content.
- Communicate this change to helpdesk and SharePoint site owners.
- Update internal documentation if it references Featured Links.
Learn more: Add featured links to the SharePoint start page
Compliance considerations:
No compliance considerations identified; review as appropriate for your organization.
Snapshot from Jan 23, 2026
Updated January 23, 2026: We are updating this post as a reminder. Thank you for your patience.
Introduction
We’re retiring the Featured Links capability on the SharePoint Start Page due to low adoption. This change helps streamline SharePoint experiences and reduce complexity for admins and end users. Alternative options, such as global navigation links or Resources in Viva Connections, provide more consistent ways to highlight important content.
Screenshot: The Featured Links option set for retirement appears at the bottom left in this image.
When this will happen:
General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Retirement begins early March 2026 and will complete by late June 2026.
How this affects your organization:
Who is affected: All organizations using Featured Links on the SharePoint Start Page or SharePoint mobile app.
What will happen:
- Admins will no longer be able to create, edit, update, or access Featured Links.
- Existing Featured Links will be removed from the SharePoint Start Page and SharePoint mobile app.
- No impact to other SharePoint navigation features or Viva Connections resources.
What you can do to prepare:
- Review any existing Featured Links and plan alternative navigation options.
- Consider using global navigation links or Resources in Viva Connections to highlight important sites and content.
- Communicate this change to helpdesk and SharePoint site owners.
- Update internal documentation if it references Featured Links.
Learn more: Add featured links to the SharePoint start page
Compliance considerations:
No compliance considerations identified; review as appropriate for your organization.