Information Technology Services > New SharePoint Experience

New SharePoint Experience

Please see the following scheduled Microsoft change:

Date: Between May and mid-July 2026 (An exact date for WSU’s Microsoft environment is not available.)

The following work is being completed: Microsoft is introducing a new SharePoint experience that includes a new SharePoint app bar, SharePoint start page, and support for AI-assisted features. Review visual examples of the new SharePoint experience.

All affected groups: Users accessing SharePoint

All affected processes: 

  • Users with a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot license will have access to AI‑powered capabilities within the new SharePoint experience.
  • Users will see an updated SharePoint app bar that includes:
    • OneDrive Access: Direct access to files.
    • Discover Option: Start experience for finding sites, content, and news.
    • Publish Option: Hub that unifies pages, news posts, and campaign-style communications.
    • Build Option: Centralized location for creating and managing sites, lists, libraries, and AI-powered agents (where available).
  • Users will also see updated page, news, library, and list experiences with improved content visibility, along with neutral theming applied across SharePoint product surfaces.

Duration of impact: This is a permanent, Microsoft-driven change.

Necessary follow-up steps: None

Questions? Please contact Crimson Service Desk at crimsonservicedesk@wsu.edu or 509-335-4357.

Visual Examples

Learn more about the new SharePoint app bar.

The new SharePoint experience will introduce the following changes to the SharePoint app bar:

Discover: A refreshed start experience to find relevant sites, content, and news.

Screenshot of the SharePoint Discover page showing the updated SharePoint experience. The page includes a left navigation menu, a main “Welcome, here’s what’s new” section with featured news cards, and a grid of recent and favorite SharePoint sites. The top app bar displays search and navigation options, including access to OneDrive and user profile controls.

Publish: A unified publishing hub that brings together pages, news, and campaign-style communications.

Screenshot of the SharePoint Publish page showing the updated publishing experience. The page includes a left navigation menu with publishing options, a “Jump back in” section displaying recently edited content, and a “Create with templates” area for pages and news posts. A list of recent items appears below, showing draft and published content with status and activity details.

Build: A centralized place where makers can create and manage SharePoint sites, lists, libraries, and AI-powered agents from a single surface.

Screenshot of the SharePoint Build page showing the updated site and solution creation experience. The page includes a “Start building” section with options to create sites, lists, document libraries, and AI-powered agents, followed by an “Owned by you” section listing recently accessed SharePoint sites and resources. A left navigation menu and top app bar provide access to SharePoint navigation and search.