Why is SharePoint Online So Slow? Root Causes and Solutions

If you have ever wondered why is SharePoint Online so slow, you are not alone. SharePoint Online is widely accepted by the organizations to improve their workflow. However, its performance issues can sometimes hinder its efficiency and frustrate users as well.

Most of the time SharePoint Online performance is slowed down because of several factors. This includes server latency, network bandwidth limitations, page layout complexities and the devices capacity to access it.

These SharePoint performance challenges can be bothersome, but the best part is that all of these can be resolved. In this detailed guide, we will explore the primary reasons for slowing down SharePoint’s performance and also share the best solutions to get rid of these issues.

Whether you’re a SharePoint administrator or an end-user, these actionable solutions will help you make the most of SharePoint Online without feeling held back by delayed response.

Why is SharePoint Online So Slow and How to Improve it

SharePoint’s performance depends upon several factors. Let’s discuss the top reasons and their solutions behind the slow performance of SharePoint Online.

1. Server Side Latency

Every action performed in SharePoint Online requires the interference of the server. For instance, loading a page, adding new data, searching, etc. All these requests required time called the SPRequestDuration. But due to the high number of concurrent users the server failed to handle all the queries efficiently. As a result, the server gets overloaded with requests that lead to SharePoint Online slow performance.

Solution

SharePoint Latency is also a key metric that measures the response time of a query. So, to deal with the server-side latency issue, you can schedule your heavy tasks during off-peak hours. It helps other users to use SharePoint flawlessly.

2. Unstable Internet Connection

Connecting to a stable Internet connection is crucial for a smooth SharePoint experience. If your Internet is not stable or slow, it can also create SharePoint Online performance issues while saving or downloading files.

Solution

Make sure you are connected to a stable Internet connection providing sufficient bandwidth. Ensure your Internet bandwidth is in the range of 5-10 Mbps at least.

3. SharePoint Throttling

To maintain SharePoint’s health, it uses the concept of throttling. Which is used to restrict the users from not uploading the large files continuously in the SharePoint. It restricts the usage of SharePoint temporarily to prevent overloading. If you are dealing with large data either uploading or downloading in SharePoint Online, then this might be why is SharePoint Online so slow.

Solution

Avoid the usage of SharePoint to perform heavy tasks concurrently. Try to divide them in a specified interval to avoid throttling issues.

4. Complex Layout and Integration of Heavy Web Parts

Organizations use the customized pages in SharePoint to make them more engaging. But with the integration of heavy web parts and including the customizations the SharePoint performance gets slowed down. For instance, if the SharePoint page includes several web parts such as high-resolution pages and streaming videos then it affects the server latency.

Solution

To get rid of the SharePoint performance issue, try to avoid the use of heavy web parts. Instead of using high-resolution images, use compressed images, and also try to minimize the number of images on a web page. You can also embed the YouTube video link rather than uploading the whole video.

5. Code Customizations

Implementing CSS and JavaScript is a common practice nowadays to make SharePoint’s page more interactive. But they also increase the size of the page leading to slow down the performance.

Solution

Do not overload the SharePoint page with the unwanted CSS and JS. Also, optimized the custom-added CSS and JavaScript files to load them asynchronously so as not to affect the SharePoint performance. You can also refer to Microsoft’s Page Diagnostic tool to filter out the web parts that make the SharePoint page heavier and slow it down.

6. Improper Data Management

Another main reason for the query why is SharePoint Online so slow is the inefficient file handling and data management. Adding multiple files in document libraries with poor organization, and excessive versions slows down SharePoint’s speed.

Solution

Make use of OneDrive sync to store the SharePoint files locally. By using the OneDrive sync, users do not need to wait for the loading of SharePoint’s content to access the files. This approach can reduce loading delays, particularly for large files. Additionally, files stored in OneDrive and linked to SharePoint libraries can still be shared and accessed through SharePoint.

7. File Size Versioning

Users uploading heavy files in the SharePoint storage can also affect the SharePoint performance. However, storing their versions after the specified changes is also stored in SharePoint and impacts SharePoint loading speed.

Solution

Compress the files before uploading them to SharePoint. Also, limit the number of versions that a SharePoint file should have. It will stop the version policy to create multiple versions of a file and not slow down SharePoint.

8. Accessing SharePoint Using Older Browsers

Using outdated browsers can affect SharePoint Online performance. Microsoft’s SharePoint Online is optimized for the latest technology. Using it in the older browser affects its performance. These browsers cannot render complex pages or run custom scripts efficiently.

Solution

Upgrade to the latest version of the browsers. These browsers support the latest web standards and offer better compatibility with SharePoint’s advanced features. Additionally, they also include JavaScript engines and efficient memory management, allowing SharePoint pages to load efficiently. By using an updated browser users can use SharePoint Online at its best speed.

9. External Networks

Why is SharePoint Online so slow, maybe because of external networks. Because external networks and security configurations can also affect SharePoint Online performance. For instance, VPNs, and firewalls add an extra security layer that delays access to SharePoint. It is widely happening with the remote users or those working from different network environments.

Solution

Users can create network exceptions to allow direct access to SharePoint Online without interference from VPNs. By configuring these “split-tunnel” settings for SharePoint Online, users can reduce unnecessary latency while still maintaining network security.

10. SharePoint Online Storage Quota Exceeded

There might be reasons behind the slow performance such as the storage of SharePoint Online. Although Microsoft offers ample storage to store the data in the SharePoint document libraries and lists. But due to excessive use of them, it might get full.

Solution

You can either backup SharePoint Online to local storage or perform SharePoint data migration. Using the SysTools SharePoint Migration Tool, you can accomplish the process of transferring files to another account. Now you can remove them and use their storage to store the upcoming files.

11. Device Limitations

It also matters which device is used to access SharePoint. If the device does not have the essential free storage to run SharePoint smoothly, then you might be puzzled why is SharePoint Online so slow.

Solution

To resolve the device issues, you need to upgrade your system with more RAM or CPU. You can also boost SharePoint performance by closing all the unnecessary apps running in the background. 

12. SharePoint Site Collection Size

Managing the SharePoint site collection properly is necessary for smooth document management. Having a large number of files in the SharePoint collection can also slow its performance. 

Solution

You can decommission the unnecessary items from the SharePoint site collection. It will free up space in SharePoint and also improve its loading time. If you do not want to remove the items from the SharePoint site collection, then you can archive the data as well. 

Conclusion

In this detailed write-up, we have addressed the query Why is SharePoint Online so slow? We have elaborated on the different reasons such as server latency, network bandwidth, etc. Now, by using the discussed solutions for every reason you can boost your SharePoint Online speed effortlessly.