👋 Farewell: Retirement of featured links on SharePoint Start Page (from March 2026)

Hey Reader,

What’s Changing

Starting early March 2026, Featured Links on the SharePoint Start Page will begin retiring and be completely removed by late June 2026. If you currently use Featured Links to showcase important sites or tools for your organization, you’ll need to switch to global navigation links or Viva Connections Resources to highlight content for your users.

Who it’s changing for

Primary audience: SharePoint admins who manage Featured Links * Impact: Medium - Will lose ability to create and manage featured links on the Start Page * How they’ll feel: Concerned about losing a content highlighting tool, uncertain about alternatives

Secondary audience: End users who click Featured Links * Impact: Low - Most may not notice the change or rarely use the feature * How they’ll feel: Neutral, or slightly confused if their familiar links disappear

IT Teams/Helpdesk: * Impact: Medium - Need to field questions and guide users to new navigation methods * How they’ll feel: Worried about support tickets and helping users adapt

Why it’s changing

Microsoft is removing this feature because very few organizations actually use it, and when they do, it’s not very effective. Featured Links sit at the bottom of the Start Page where people rarely look, don’t work consistently across desktop and mobile, and add unnecessary complexity to SharePoint management. Global navigation and Viva Connections Resources put important links right where people can see them - at the top of every page and in Microsoft Teams - making them far more useful and actually getting your content the attention it deserves.

When It’s Changing

The timeline follows a gradual phase-out approach: * Early March 2026: Retirement process begins - admins lose ability to create or edit Featured Links * Late June 2026: Complete removal of all existing Featured Links from SharePoint Start Page and mobile app

Grace period: You have approximately 4 months to transition to alternative solutions before Featured Links disappear entirely.

This timeline gives organizations adequate time to review current links, select alternatives, and communicate changes to users.

What’s in it for you

1. Better visibility: Global navigation appears at the top of every page where users actually look, not hidden at the bottom of the Start Page
2. Mobile-friendly: Viva Connections Resources work seamlessly in Teams and mobile, giving users consistent access anywhere
3. Simpler management: Fewer scattered features means less admin overhead and confusion about where to put important links
4. Higher engagement: Links in prominent locations get clicked more often, so your important content actually reaches people
5. Future-proof: You’ll be using navigation tools Microsoft actively supports and improves, integrated with modern workplace experiences

Remember: upgrading isn't just about avoiding problems - it's about giving yourself better, more secure tools that make your work easier and more effective.

Remember: change succeeds when people understand not just what they must do differently, but why doing it differently serves them better.

Go well and feel free to let me know your thoughts.

Anthony

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Source: Message Centre - Message ID: MC1197131 | Published Date: 15 December 2025 | Services: SharePoint Online‎