Unpublishing a page in SharePoint Online can be done through the SharePoint interface. This guide will walk you through the process to unpublish a page in SharePoint Online, ensuring you have all the information you need to manage your SharePoint pages effectively.
Unpublish a Page in SharePoint Online via SharePoint Interface
There are two scenarios to consider when unpublishing a page via the SharePoint interface: when Content Approval is enabled and when it is not enabled.
Scenario 1: Content Approval is Not Enabled
Navigate to the Pages Library: Go to the site where your page is located and navigate to the Site Pages library.

Select the Page: Find the page you want to unpublish and select it.

Unpublish the Page: Click on the ellipsis (…) next to the page name, select “More,” and then click “Unpublish.” This action will revert the page to a draft state, making it invisible to users.

Scenario 2: Content Approval is Enabled
Navigate to the Pages Library: Go to the site where your page is located and navigate to the Pages library.

Select the Page: Find the page you want to unpublish and select it.

Open the Version History: Click on the ellipsis (…) next to the page name, and click “Version History”.

Unpublish the current published major version: Unpublish the current published major version by clicking on the “Unpublish the version”. This action will revert the page to a draft state, making it invisible to users.

Common Issues and How to Resolve Them
Issue 1: Page Still Appears in Search Results
Even after unpublishing a page, it might still appear in search results. To resolve this, you need to remove permissions from the page:
- Navigate to the Pages library for the site.
- Click the ellipse (…), then select Manage Access.

- Click Stop Sharing.

This action will revoke permissions for everyone, but owners will still retain access.
Issue 2: Draft Item Security Settings
If the page is not visible to the intended users after unpublishing, check the Draft Item Security settings:
- Go to Site contents > Site Pages > click Settings > Library settings > More library settings.
- Under “Versioning settings,” in “Draft Item Security,” change the setting to “Only users who can edit items“.
Conclusion
In conclusion, knowing how to unpublish a page in SharePoint Online is essential for maintaining the accuracy and relevance of your site’s content. Whether you are working with Content Approval enabled or not, the steps outlined in this guide will help you manage your pages effectively. By following these instructions and troubleshooting common issues, you can ensure that your SharePoint Online environment remains well-organized and up-to-date.
For more detailed information on managing and unpublishing SharePoint pages, you can refer to the official documentation from Microsoft here.