Fixing Missing InfoPath Designer in SharePoint Online: Steps to Resolve InfoPath Designer Issues in Office 365

If you're facing issues with missing InfoPath Designer in SharePoint Online, you’re not alone—Microsoft is gradually moving away from InfoPath as part of its modernization of Office 365 and SharePoint. Here’s a concise guide to understanding why InfoPath Designer may be unavailable in SharePoint Online and exploring alternative solutions that align with modern design standards.

Why is InfoPath Designer Missing?

InfoPath Designer is a legacy application used for customizing SharePoint forms. While SharePoint Online continues to support existing InfoPath forms, the browser-based designer and deep integration found in classic SharePoint are no longer actively promoted. There’s no way to launch or install InfoPath Designer directly from SharePoint Online’s site menu. Instead, it requires a separate download—available only for certain Microsoft 365 plans—and Microsoft has announced end-of-life for InfoPath in 2026. Ongoing updates and support are minimal.

How to Fix or Work Around the Missing InfoPath Designer

1. Download InfoPath Designer: If you hold a relevant Microsoft 365 enterprise license, you can download InfoPath Designer 2013 from the official Microsoft Download Center, install it locally on your computer, and open SharePoint forms for editing.
2. Check Permissions and Browser Compatibility: Ensure you have the right permissions and use a supported browser. Sometimes form options may be hidden if you have only read access or if your site is using modern experiences exclusively.
3. Consider Modern Alternatives: For ongoing projects, explore Power Apps—Microsoft's recommended solution for custom forms and workflows. Power Apps offers deeper integration, mobile-friendliness, and better future-proofing.

As an interior designer, I often think in terms of evolving environments and adaptable tools. When an application like InfoPath is deprecated, it's similar to renovating a dated space for modern functionality—adapting your SharePoint sites with new form solutions is crucial to keeping your workspace efficient and visually cohesive. Exploring a home designer tool can foster creative inspiration for layout planning and design, and a similar approach can be applied to digital tools—choosing user-friendly, flexible platforms helps both in aesthetics and productivity.

Tips 1:

Evaluate all custom forms and workflows currently dependent on InfoPath. Start migrating them to Power Apps or other modern platforms well ahead of InfoPath’s support end-date. Create a detailed inventory and prioritize the transition of the most critical business processes.

FAQ

Q: Can I still use InfoPath Designer with SharePoint Online?

A: Yes, but only by installing InfoPath Designer 2013 on your local machine—there’s no direct integration with SharePoint Online’s web interface.

Q: Is there a replacement for InfoPath Designer for SharePoint Online?

A: Yes, Microsoft Power Apps is the recommended replacement, offering more flexibility, better integration, and modern features.

Q: What happens to my existing InfoPath forms after 2026?

A: Microsoft will end support and updates, so forms may continue to function but with increasing compatibility and security risks.

Q: How do I migrate my InfoPath forms to Power Apps?

A: There’s no direct migration tool, but you can manually recreate forms and workflows using Power Apps and Power Automate.

Q: Why don’t I see the “Customize with InfoPath” option in SharePoint Online?

A: This option is no longer available natively in SharePoint Online’s modern experience. You must use the standalone InfoPath Designer to open forms, or switch to Power Apps for customization.