How to create a Subsite Even If the subsites creation is disabled in SharePoint Online?

Update: Things are changed now! You can’t create a subsite if the subsite creation is disabled on the Admin Center! If you try to create a subsite through web browser, You’ll get “New subsites are not available for your organization. Create a new site instead.” message and PowerShell says “New subsites are not available for your organization. Create a new site instead.” both from CSOM or PnP PowerShell.

Subsites are no longer recommended in modern SharePoint Online information architecture – So subsites creation is disabled by default. What if you have to create a subsite even when the subsite creation is disabled globally at the tenant level?

sharepoint online enable subsite creation

Well, here is the trick to create a subsite in SharePoint Online:

  • Login to your SharePoint Online site, You won’t find the “Subsite” option under the “New” menu. Proceed clicking on Settings >> Site Settings.sharepoint online prevent subsite creation
  • In the site settings page, Click on “Sites and Workspaces” and click on the “Create a Subsite” link (URL shortcut: /_layouts/15/mngsubwebs.aspx)unable to create subsite in sharepoint online
  • This takes you to the new subsite creation page, where you can supply the details and create a new subsite.sharepoint online can't create subsite

Create a Subsite using PnP PowerShell

Although subsite creation is disabled in web UI, You can create a subsite using PowerShell:

#Connect to PnP
Connect-PnPOnline -Url "https://Crescent.sharepoint.com/sites/Purchase/" -Interactive

#Create a modern Subsite
New-PnPWeb -Url "Archive" -Title "Archive" -Template "STS#3"

Salaudeen Rajack

Salaudeen Rajack - SharePoint Expert with Two decades of SharePoint Experience. Love to Share my knowledge and experience with the SharePoint community, through real-time articles!

2 thoughts on “How to create a Subsite Even If the subsites creation is disabled in SharePoint Online?

  • Hi Salaudeen,

    Do you know a way to go around this still? Right now we are receiving the following error when trying this script or accesing the url:
    New-PnPWeb : New subsites are not available for your organization. Create a new site instead.

    KR,
    Kurt

    Reply

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