Re-imagined Hero with the New Carousel Layout for SharePoint

The Hero web part in Microsoft SharePoint Online has long been a cornerstone for creating visually stunning pages. Now, with the introduction of the new Carousel layout, we are taking your SharePoint pages and news to the next level. This highly anticipated update brings a modern, dynamic design to your content, ensuring an eye-catching and immersive user experience. 

Let us dive into what makes this new Carousel layout a game-changer. 

Feature Highlights

Rotating Slides for Maximum Impact

Display up to five slides in any section type with the Carousel layout. Each slide can include: 

• Background Media: Add a background image, video, or link to a page. 

• Topic: A brief 40-character headline. 

• Header: A compelling 110-character title. 

• Description: Up to 500 characters to add detailed context. 

Easily mix and match images, videos, documents, or pages to create a dynamic rotating display that grabs your audience’s attention.

Three Stunning New Styles

Bring variety and creativity to your content with these new style options: 

• Image Overlay: Highlight your visuals with a subtle text overlay. 

• Text Block: Keep the focus on your message with bold, clean typography. 

• Diagonal Split: Add a modern twist with a split-screen effect. 

Each slide can have a unique style, allowing you to craft a visually diverse experience. 

Seamless Layout Switching 

Switching to the Carousel layout is effortless: 

• Enter Edit mode by selecting the Edit button at the top right of your page. 

• Choose Carousel from the Layout options in the content pane or the Layout categories dropdown on the canvas. 

 

Auto-play Functionality 

Bring your pages to life with the auto-play option. Slides transition smoothly every ~3.5 seconds, keeping users engaged. Prefer static slides? You can disable auto-play and let viewers navigate at their own pace. A convenient pause button is also available for those who want more time to read. 

 

 

The features and capabilities mentioned in this blog post are demonstrated in the following video with Tina Chen (Microsoft) and Vesa Juvonen (Microsoft).

Frequently asked questions 

When will the Carousel layout be available? 

General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, and DoD): Rollout begins in mid-January 2025 and will be completed by the end of the month. 

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 395214. 

What about existing layouts? 

• Item Management Updates: You can now add or delete items directly using the new Slide interface, simplifying customization. 

 

• Property Pane Enhancements: The Tiles and Layers layouts have received a refreshed UI, delivering a more modern editing experience. 

• No Impact on Current Layouts: If you are using the Tiles or Layers layouts, they will remain unchanged. There is no automatic conversion to the Carousel layout, ensuring continuity for your existing pages. 

 

What is next? 

The Hero Carousel will soon support Amplify and sending by email. 

 

Thank you for exploring the new Carousel layout for the Hero web part. We can’t wait to see how you use these updates to create beautiful, engaging SharePoint pages. Share your feedback and questions in the comments—we’re here to help!