Why do modern pages leave so much white space?

[Tom Castiglia]

When using modern pages, there is always about 25% of the screen width that is unused on the right side.  Why won't any web parts extend further to the right and use that space?

[#2]

Hi Tom!

It seems like the section contains three columns and the third one is empty. Have You tried to switch the layout option from "Three columns" to "Two Columns"?

[#3]

Hi Magnus - Not sure why I missed your reply until now.  I agree it looks like I have 3rd column that is empty, but that was not the case.  I believe that example was using a 2 column layout.

[#4]

its really bizarre. I have the same issue as well for my sites as well. I created a publishing site, but I turned on Site Pages and changed the home page to a modern page - I have the same issue, with a bunch of white space to the right hand side.

I then created an O365 Group and I had a look at the Team site there (thinking my issue could have been because I started with a publishing site - nope. The issue is here on the team site as well. 

I created a Communications site (Topic) and that one didnt have any extra white space on the right hand side. Which leads me to believe its something to do with the page layout. 

[#5]

My experience is that every modern page layout in a team site (classic or modern) has this unused white space at the left. 

I think it's weird, as you add a document or list webpart to a page and you get a horizontal scroll bar while there's loads of white space.

[#6]

So the communication site homepage template appears to allow you to use the full width of a browser only for the image and hero webparts. All other webparts will appear on the page as centre aligned.

Whereas on the homepage template on a team site - there is no option to have a section that takes up the full width of a browser screen, and everything is left aligned - which generally looks pretty average on a laptop with a decent screen resolution!

[#7]

I am having the very same issue and am frustrated@Tom Castiglia 

It is not due to having an empty column. Why is the right side have all this wasted space?

[#8]

This is not the issue. I have the same problem where on all of my modern pages there is a huge white blank column on the right side no matter what I select in the sections.

[#9]

Yup - we get too when in full-screen. It must be by design as they disappear when the window is made smaller.

Full screen: https://i.imgur.com/IrKRQ6v.png
Windowed: https://i.imgur.com/14ZJSsr.png

That said, there is a school of thought that says that narrow columns are easier to read - your eye doesn't scan as much. So I'm okay with the white band. I think this is why newspapers have narrow columns

[#10]

@Tom Castiglia 

Did you ever figure anything out with this issue? I am similarly frustrated. It doesn't make any sense that the banners can span the entire width of the page but the webparts leave this giant white space. It looks really unprofessional and like a mistake.

[#11]

@FWBFL 

Help someone. This white space is bugging me. I have 3 columns but they wont extend to cover the white space on both sides. The pictures are squished in the middle. Are there any resizing options? 

[#12]

@1417785 you can't extend the columns or web parts into the white spave but you CAN add a vertical section which will take up the space and will allow you to add web parts all down the right hand side of the page.

Also, make sure you don't have Quick Launch navigation selected in the Site Settings as that uses up the left hand sapce.

Rob
Los Gallardos
Intranet, SharePoint and Power Platform Manager (and classic 1967 Morris Traveller driver)

[#13]

Cheers Rob.

[#14]

@RobElliott There's still an entire column worth of white space, even when installing a right-side vertical pane

[#15]

This white space is REALLY annoying and says a lot about Microsoft pushing out products that are not ready. This should be an easy fix!

[#16]

@draconxanathos - Came here for the same issue. Quite annoying. I dont remember this being like this in the past.

[#17]

It's by design and happens with larger resolutions/screens. There will be a new design of SharePoint from next year that hopefully handles that

[#18]

It seems this has been an issue for years in modern team site pages and they haven’t fixed it.

[#19]

It amazes me that this issue still exists in SharePoint, it's probably one of the most hindering/ugly features stopping the platform from being considered for widespread intranet use. It's a shame really.

[#20]

Same issues here its 2023 now and no fix in sight