Using SharePoint Designer with Office 365: Discover if SharePoint Designer is compatible with Office 365

SharePoint Designer was once an essential tool for customizing and managing SharePoint sites, especially in on-premises environments. However, with the evolution of Office 365 (now Microsoft 365) and SharePoint Online, the relevance and support for SharePoint Designer have changed significantly. As of now, SharePoint Designer 2013 is the last version available, and Microsoft has announced that it will not be updated for future SharePoint versions. While you can still download and use SharePoint Designer 2013 to connect to SharePoint Online, its capabilities are increasingly limited.

For tasks like branding, workflow creation, and deeper site customization, users are moving towards modern solutions such as Power Automate for workflows, the SharePoint Framework (SPFx) for custom development, and out-of-the-box site design features. Modern SharePoint Online environments focus on security, simplified maintenance, and better user experiences, so reliance on older tools like SharePoint Designer is not encouraged for long-term solutions.

As a designer, I’ve found that transitions like these happen across creative fields. When a trusted tool gets phased out, the key is to embrace new technologies that align with your intent and workflow. For instance, in interior design, we also move from manual sketches to advanced planning software or visualization tools. For those creating or redesigning digital environments (much like planning a room layout), ensuring you have the right modern tools is essential. If you’re looking at the digital workspace’s “floor plan,” leveraging a modern room planner provides better visualization, collaboration, and efficiency—mirroring the shift from legacy platforms like SharePoint Designer to cloud-based solutions.

Tips 1:

If you’re still using SharePoint Designer on Office 365, restrict its use to legacy workflows and site editing that hasn’t migrated to the modern interface. Plan for a gradual shift to features such as Power Automate, Power Apps, and SPFx for sustainable, future-proof customizations. Always back up critical custom solutions as you transition.

FAQ

Q: Can I still use SharePoint Designer 2013 with SharePoint Online/Office 365?

A: Yes, but with limitations—some features no longer work and there is no future support from Microsoft.

Q: What are alternatives to SharePoint Designer for workflow automation?

A: Power Automate is the recommended solution for automating workflows in SharePoint Online.

Q: Is SharePoint Designer still supported by Microsoft?

A: SharePoint Designer 2013 is the last version released, and support is limited. Microsoft encourages users to migrate to modern tools.

Q: Can I customize modern SharePoint pages with SharePoint Designer?

A: No, SharePoint Designer cannot be used to customize modern SharePoint pages—use SPFx and site design features instead.

Q: What should I use for branding in SharePoint Online?

A: Use modern site design, themes, and the SharePoint Framework for branding and custom solutions in SharePoint Online.