Hey guys! Ever posted something on SharePoint news that you instantly regretted? Or maybe some old news is just cluttering up the place? No worries, deleting news posts in SharePoint is easier than you might think. Let's dive into how you can keep your SharePoint newsfeed clean and relevant.

Why Delete News Posts in SharePoint?

Before we get into the how, let's quickly cover the why. Keeping your SharePoint newsfeed tidy is super important for a few reasons:

• Relevance: Nobody wants to wade through outdated info. Deleting old news ensures that everyone sees the most current and relevant updates.
• Clarity: A clean newsfeed reduces confusion and helps people quickly find what they need.
• Professionalism: Let's be honest, a newsfeed full of old, irrelevant posts doesn't exactly scream "organized."
• Compliance: Sometimes, news needs to be removed due to policy changes, errors, or other compliance-related reasons. Regularly reviewing and deleting outdated news helps maintain compliance.
• Improved Search: Deleting irrelevant content improves search accuracy, making it easier for users to find the information they're actually looking for.
• Enhanced User Experience: A well-maintained newsfeed contributes to a better overall user experience, encouraging more frequent and effective use of SharePoint.
• Storage Management: While news posts don't typically take up a lot of space, deleting them contributes to overall storage management and helps prevent unnecessary data accumulation.

So, now that we know why it's important, let's get into the how.

Steps to Delete News Posts in SharePoint

Okay, here's the lowdown on deleting news posts. There are a couple of ways to do this, depending on where the news post is located. Usually, SharePoint news posts are displayed on a Site Page or a News Web Part. Let's tackle both scenarios.

Deleting News Posts from a Site Page

Step 1: Navigate to the Site Page

First things first, head over to the Site Page where the news post is displayed. This is usually your homepage or a dedicated news page.

Step 2: Find the News Post

Scroll through the page until you spot the news post you want to get rid of. Easy peasy!

Step 3: Edit the Page

In the top right corner of the page, you should see an "Edit" button. Click it. This puts the page into edit mode, allowing you to make changes.

Step 4: Select the News Web Part

Now, click on the News Web Part. You'll know you've selected it when you see a border around it and a toolbar appear.

Step 5: Edit the Web Part

In the toolbar, look for an "Edit web part" (it usually looks like a pencil icon). Click on it to open the web part's properties pane on the right side of the screen.

Step 6: Find the News Post to Delete

In the properties pane, you should see a list of news posts. Find the one you want to delete.

Step 7: Delete the News Post

Here's where it can vary a bit. You might see a "Delete" button (usually a trash can icon) next to the news post. If you don't see a direct delete option, you might need to click on the news post to open it, and then look for a delete option within the post itself. Sometimes, the delete option is hidden under an ellipsis (three dots).

Step 8: Confirm the Deletion

A confirmation box will pop up asking if you're sure you want to delete the news post. Click "Delete" (or "Yes," or whatever the affirmative option is) to confirm.

Step 9: Republish the Page

Once you've deleted the news post, click the "Republish" button in the top right corner to save your changes and make them visible to everyone.

Deleting News Posts from the News Web Part

Sometimes, news posts are displayed in a dedicated News Web Part, which might have a slightly different interface. Here’s how to handle that:

Step 1: Access the Page with the News Web Part

Go to the page where the News Web Part is located. This could be your main team site page or a specific news page.

Step 2: Enter Edit Mode

Click the “Edit” button, typically found in the upper right corner of the page. This allows you to modify the page content.

Step 3: Select the News Web Part

Click on the News Web Part. When selected, it will be highlighted with a border, and a toolbar may appear.

Step 4: Edit the Web Part Properties

Look for an “Edit web part” icon in the toolbar (often a pencil icon) or directly within the web part. Clicking this opens the properties pane on the right side of the screen.

Step 5: Manage News Posts

In the properties pane, there should be an option to “Manage news” or something similar. This will take you to a list of all news posts in that web part.

Step 6: Locate the Post to Delete

Find the specific news post you want to remove from the list. SharePoint usually displays the title and a snippet of the content.

Step 7: Delete the News Post

Next to the news post, there should be a “Delete” button (often a trash can icon) or an ellipsis (three dots) that reveals a “Delete” option when clicked. Select the appropriate option.

Step 8: Confirm Deletion

A confirmation dialog box will appear, asking you to confirm the deletion. Click “Delete” or “OK” to proceed.

Step 9: Republish the Page

After deleting the news post, click the “Republish” button in the top right corner of the page to save your changes. This ensures that the updated page is visible to all users.

Alternative Method: Deleting from the Site Pages Library

If you're still struggling to find the delete option within the web part, here's another way to do it:

Step 1: Go to Site Contents

Navigate to the main page of your SharePoint site. In the left-hand navigation menu (or sometimes in the top menu), look for "Site Contents" and click on it.

Step 2: Find the Site Pages Library

In the Site Contents, you'll see a list of libraries and apps. Look for the "Site Pages" library and click on it. This library stores all the pages on your site, including news posts.

Step 3: Locate the News Post

News posts are stored as pages in the Site Pages library. Find the news post you want to delete. You might need to look at the "Modified" date to help you identify the correct one.

Step 4: Delete the News Post

Hover over the news post. You'll see a checkbox appear. Check the box to select the news post. Then, in the toolbar above the list, click the "Delete" button (it's usually a trash can icon).

Step 5: Confirm the Deletion

A confirmation box will pop up asking if you're sure you want to delete the page. Click "Delete" to confirm.

Step 6: Empty the Recycle Bin (Optional)

When you delete a news post, it goes to the site's Recycle Bin. To permanently delete it, you need to empty the Recycle Bin. To do this, click on "Recycle Bin" in the left-hand navigation menu. Then, select the news post and click "Delete" again. Be careful, though! Once you delete it from the Recycle Bin, it's gone for good.

Important Considerations

• Permissions: Make sure you have the necessary permissions to delete news posts. Usually, you need to be a site owner or have edit permissions.
• Recycle Bin: When you delete a news post, it goes to the Recycle Bin. You can restore it from there if you made a mistake. However, the Recycle Bin is usually emptied periodically, so don't wait too long!
• Communication: If you're deleting news that might be important to others, consider communicating the deletion beforehand to avoid confusion.

Tips for Managing SharePoint News

• Regular Review: Set a schedule to regularly review your SharePoint newsfeed and delete outdated or irrelevant posts.
• Clear Guidelines: Establish clear guidelines for what type of news should be posted and how long it should remain active.
• Train Users: Train users on how to create and manage news posts, including how to delete them.
• Use Categories: Use categories to organize your news posts. This makes it easier for users to find what they're looking for and for you to manage the newsfeed.
• Archive Old News: Instead of deleting old news, consider archiving it. This allows you to keep a record of past events without cluttering the newsfeed.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Missing Delete Button: If you don't see a delete button, make sure you have the necessary permissions. Also, check if the news post is part of a web part that doesn't allow direct deletion. In that case, try deleting it from the Site Pages library.
• Accidental Deletion: If you accidentally delete a news post, don't panic! Check the Recycle Bin. You can usually restore it from there.
• News Post Still Visible: If a news post is still visible after you've deleted it, try clearing your browser cache or waiting a few minutes. Sometimes, it takes a little while for the changes to propagate.

Conclusion

And there you have it! Deleting news posts in SharePoint is a breeze once you know the steps. By keeping your newsfeed clean and relevant, you'll improve the user experience and ensure that everyone stays informed. Happy SharePointing, folks! Remember, regular maintenance is key to a healthy and effective SharePoint environment. Keep those news feeds fresh! And don't forget, SharePoint is your friend!