Enable tree view in SharePoint Online with 3 ways. Use Navigation Elements, PnP PowerShell or the sync app. Navigation Elements suits site owners on classic pages. PnP PowerShell suits admins who manage many sites. Sync gives modern sites a folder tree in File Explorer. Microsoft Q&A says modern pages have no native tree view. Test the setting on one site first.
You open a site with many libraries and subsites and cannot see where a folder sits. Site owners ask how to enable tree view in SharePoint Online for that reason.
Microsoft describes the tree view as a way to move between content on a site with a complex hierarchy of lists, libraries and subsites. You get 3 ways to switch on the setting, a straight answer on modern pages and a workaround that works today.
Which Ways Switch on a SharePoint Tree View?
Two ways switch the setting on and one way gives you a similar folder tree.
| Way | Best for | Skill needed |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation Elements | One classic site | Site owner with a browser |
| PnP PowerShell | Many sites with the same setting | Admin with scripting skill |
| Sync to File Explorer | Modern sites and large folder structures | Any user with the OneDrive app |
Does Modern SharePoint have a Tree View?
Modern pages have no default tree view. A Microsoft Q&A answer says the tree view lives only in classic SharePoint and shows folders without the files inside them.
Do You Know? That Q&A page also reports that the gear menu on a modern site can lack a Site Settings option. Site owners can hit this wall before they reach the checkbox.
How do You Enable Tree View From Navigation Elements?
Who it suits. Non technical site owners on classic pages. Extra application. None, because a browser is enough.
A Microsoft answerer gives this path for SharePoint Online.
- Open the site. Go to the site where you want the tree.
- Open Site Settings. Select the gear icon and then Site Settings.
- Find Navigation Elements. It sits under Look and Feel.
- Tick the box. Select the Enable Tree View checkbox.
- Select OK. Refresh the page and look for the tree under the navigation.
Heads Up. The tree lists folders and not the files inside them. A library with a deep folder layout still needs good folder names.
How do You Set the Tree View With PnP PowerShell?
Who it suits. Technical admins who manage several sites. Extra application. PnP.PowerShell and an app registration for sign in.
Microsoft lists a TreeViewEnabled property on the web object in its client library. Set it to true and update the web.
Connect-PnPOnline -Url https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/Projects -Interactive -ClientId <your-app-id>
$web = Get-PnPWeb
$web.TreeViewEnabled = $true
$web.Update()
Invoke-PnPQueryRepeat the commands for every site in a list. Microsoft documents the property name but not what it does. Test one site before you script the rest.
How do You Browse Folders Like a Tree Without It?
Who it suits. Non technical users on modern sites. Extra application. The OneDrive sync app.
Sync puts the library in File Explorer where folders expand like a tree. Microsoft gives these steps.
- Open the library. Go to Documents or to the subfolder you want.
- Select Sync. Choose the Sync button on the command bar.
- Allow the app. Confirm when the browser asks to open Microsoft OneDrive.
- Open File Explorer. Find the folder named after your organization in the left pane.
Microsoft says files cannot sync when the site name has a character that Windows does not allow in folder names.
Why does the SharePoint Tree View Not Show?
- The site uses modern pages. The tree view lives only in classic SharePoint.
- The page needs a refresh. Reload the site after you select OK.
- Files are missing from the tree. The tree shows folders and not files by design.
- Navigation Elements is missing. Ask a site owner or admin to open it.
Which Habits Improve Folder Navigation?
- Use short folder paths. Two or three levels beat ten levels of nested folders.
- Name folders by task. Names like Contracts or Invoices tell people where to look.
- Split large libraries. A new library for a new project makes every tree small.
- Test as a member. Sign in as a regular user and check what the tree shows.
Which Mistakes Waste Time With a Tree View?
- Hunting for the tree on a modern page. The setting belongs to classic pages.
- Expecting files in the tree. The tree lists folders only.
- Scripting 50 sites at once. Test one site first and then repeat.
- Nesting folders to fix a clutter problem. Columns and views sort files better.
My Verdict on Folder Trees in SharePoint
Switch the setting on only for classic sites that need it. On modern sites sync the library and use File Explorer for the folder tree.
Folders are a weak way to organize files at scale. Columns and views will serve your team better as the library grows.
Key Takeaways
- The checkbox sits under Site Settings, Look and Feel and Navigation Elements.
- Microsoft Q&A says modern SharePoint has no tree view.
- The tree shows folders and does not show files.
- The Sync button gives any library a folder tree in File Explorer.
Next Read
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SharePoint Online Still have a Tree View?
Yes on classic pages and no on modern pages. A Microsoft Q&A answer says the native tree view exists only in classic SharePoint.
Can I Enable Tree View on a Modern SharePoint Site?
No. The same answer says the tree view is not available in modern SharePoint. Use sync and File Explorer for a folder tree.
Does the Tree View Show Files?
No, files do not appear. The answer says the tree shows folders without the files inside them.
Is the Tree View Checkbox Under Navigation Elements?
Yes. A Microsoft answerer points to Site Settings, then Navigation Elements under Look and Feel, then the tree view checkbox.
Can I Disable Tree View Again?
Yes, at any time. Clear the Enable Tree View checkbox in Navigation Elements and select OK. Refresh the page to confirm the tree is gone.
Can I See My Library Folders in File Explorer?
Yes when you select Sync. Microsoft says the files appear in a folder named after your organization in the File Explorer left pane.
Can I Create a New Library for Reorganized Folders?
Yes, with the New menu. Select New and then Document library on the site. The guide on how to create a document library lists every step.
Jamie blends strategic marketing insight with technical writing, turning migration and recovery topics into guidance that works for technical and general readers alike.
Published 2 November 2026. Menu steps come from a Microsoft answer on the missing SharePoint tree view. The modern page gap comes from a Microsoft answer on viewing folder architecture. Sync steps come from Microsoft's page on how to sync SharePoint files. Microsoft documents the modern tree view gap only in community answers so check your own site before you plan.