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Akhaq's avatar
Akhaq
Occasional Reader
Nov 11, 2026

SharePoint Designer 2013

 

Hello SharePoint Experts,

I need some guidance regarding SharePoint Online classic page customization.

Our organization is currently using SharePoint Online, and traditionally we have relied on SharePoint Designer 2013 for tasks such as:

  • Editing Classic Pages
  • Modifying Display Forms (DispForm.aspx)
  • Modifying Edit Forms (EditForm.aspx)
  • Customizing List Forms
  • Making page-level changes using ASPX pages

However, I am unable to install SharePoint Designer 2013 on my system and would like to understand the available alternatives.

Could you please help clarify the following:

  1. What is the recommended alternative to SharePoint Designer 2013 for SharePoint Online?
  2. How can Classic Pages be edited in SharePoint Online without SharePoint Designer?
  3. Is it possible to customize DisplayForm.aspx, EditForm.aspx, and NewForm.aspx without using SharePoint Designer?
  4. Can Power Apps be used as a replacement for customized list forms?
  5. Are there any supported Microsoft-recommended approaches for customizing classic pages and forms in SharePoint Online?
  6. If SharePoint Designer is no longer recommended, what tools are commonly used by SharePoint Online administrators and developers for these scenarios?

My objective is to continue maintaining existing classic SharePoint Online sites while following Microsoft's supported and modern approach.

Any guidance, best practices, documentation references, or real-world experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your support.

 

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1 Reply

  • Jamony's avatar
    Jamony
    MCT
    Nov 11, 2026

    You need to maintain existing classic pages and forms while moving toward supported customization. SharePoint Designer 2013 reached end of support on July 14, 2026, so reinstalling it is not a supported long-term solution. There is no single replacement for all its editing capabilities. For ordinary classic page content and web parts, use the browser’s Page > Edit controls with the required permissions. For list forms, first distinguish changing the user experience from editing the underlying ASPX files. In a modern list, Integrate > Power Apps > Customize forms supports creating, viewing, and editing items; it does not act as an ASPX source editor. Use JSON form layout configuration for simpler presentation changes, or SharePoint Framework Form Customizers for developer-built forms. Inventory each existing customization, then test its replacement on a separate list or page before migrating. Retain classic pages only where needed and plan modern equivalents.