SharePoint Online features in PnP templates: what each feature ID does

An export made with Get-PnPSiteTemplate contains a <pnp:Features> block full of long GUIDs. Those are the features that were on at the source site, such as Document ID, Document Sets or metadata navigation. The export does not say what they are. This guide lists in tables what they do, which level they belong to and which ones to keep in a template. The overview of 81 features is at the bottom.

Two levels: site collection and site

Block in the template	In SharePoint	Scope in PowerShell
Block in the template`<pnp:SiteFeatures>`	In SharePointSite collection features (the whole site collection)	Scope in PowerShell`Site`
Block in the template`<pnp:WebFeatures>`	In SharePointSite features (this site only)	Scope in PowerShell`Web`

Each feature belongs to one level. In the wrong block, Invoke-PnPSiteTemplate stops with a message that the feature is not installed. This is what the block looks like:

XML

<pnp:Features>
  <pnp:SiteFeatures>
    <pnp:Feature ID="b50e3104-6812-424f-a011-cc90e6327318" Description="Document ID Service" />
    <pnp:Feature ID="3bae86a2-776d-499d-9db8-fa4cdc7884f8" Description="Document Sets" />
  </pnp:SiteFeatures>
  <pnp:WebFeatures>
    <pnp:Feature ID="7201d6a4-a5d3-49a1-8c19-19c4bac6e668" Description="Metadata Navigation and Filtering" />
    <pnp:Feature ID="780ac353-eaf8-4ac2-8c47-536d93c03fd6" Deactivate="true" Description="SharePoint Recommendations" />
  </pnp:WebFeatures>
</pnp:Features>

What PnP does with them

In the template	On Invoke-PnPSiteTemplate
In the templateFeature is in the list	On Invoke-PnPSiteTemplateSwitched on, if it is still off
In the template`Deactivate="true"`	On Invoke-PnPSiteTemplateSwitched off
In the templateFeature is not in the list	On Invoke-PnPSiteTemplateStays as it is. Leaving it out switches nothing off.
In the template`Description="…"`	On Invoke-PnPSiteTemplateNothing. Just a note for the reader.

Which ones belong in a template?

An export carries everything that was on, including what is on for every new site anyway. Only include what the template needs, or what you deliberately want different from the default. In the overview every feature has one of these labels:

Advice	What it means	In the cleanup tool	Count
AdviceUse when needed	What it meansKeep or switch on when the template uses it.	In the cleanup toolStays	Count5
AdviceYour choice	What it meansNo default that fits every site: choose deliberately.	In the cleanup toolStays	Count3
AdviceAlready on	What it meansAlready on for a new site: leave it out of the template.	In the cleanup toolRemoved by default	Count28
AdviceMicrosoft manages	What it meansManaged by Microsoft in SharePoint Online: leave it out.	In the cleanup toolRemoved by default	Count9
AdviceClassic	What it meansClassic SharePoint: not needed on a modern site, leave it out.	In the cleanup toolRemoved by default	Count29
AdviceRetired	What it meansRetired by Microsoft: leave it out.	In the cleanup toolRemoved by default	Count7

Common situations

Situation	Feature	What to do
SituationThe template creates a document set	FeatureDocument Sets `SiteFeatures`	What to doInclude it. Without it, Apply stops at the content type.
SituationColumns or links rely on the Document ID	FeatureDocument ID Service `SiteFeatures`	What to doInclude it.
SituationNavigation tree or key filters in large libraries	FeatureMetadata Navigation and Filtering `WebFeatures`	What to doInclude it.
SituationNo “You may also be interested in” below pages	FeatureSharePoint Recommendations `WebFeatures`	What to doInclude it with `Deactivate="true"`
SituationClassic publishing on a modern site	FeatureSharePoint Server Publishing (Infrastructure)	What to doDo not. It is for classic sites and only adds ballast.
SituationOld workflows in the export	FeatureWorkflow features (2010 and 2013)	What to doRemove them and rebuild the step in Power Automate.
SituationAn ID you do not know	FeatureUnknown	What to doLook up the name with `Get-PnPFeature`; if you still do not know, leave it out.

Listing and changing features with PowerShell

What you want	Command
What you wantSee site collection features	Command`Get-PnPFeature -Scope Site`
What you wantSee site features	Command`Get-PnPFeature -Scope Web`
What you wantSwitch a feature on	Command`Enable-PnPFeature -Identity <id> -Scope Site`
What you wantSwitch a feature off	Command`Disable-PnPFeature -Identity <id> -Scope Web -Force`

PowerShell

Connect-PnPOnline -Url https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/project -Interactive -ClientId <client id>
Get-PnPFeature -Scope Site | Select-Object DisplayName, DefinitionId
Get-PnPFeature -Scope Web  | Select-Object DisplayName, DefinitionId

Unknown IDs

SharePoint Online has features Microsoft does not describe publicly anywhere, such as internal parts of group sites and new functionality. In exports you will see, for example, IDs under WebFeatures that start with b35f1374-…, 992f7f2f-… and 65a86d9e-…. Such features are usually on by themselves. Look up the name with Get-PnPFeature; if you still do not know what it is for, leave it out of the template.

With the tools

Tool	What it does with features
ToolPnP XML cleanup	What it does with featuresShows every feature with name, level and advice. Removes by default what is already on, classic or retired.
ToolPnP XML validator	What it does with featuresReports features at the wrong level, duplicate and retired features, and a document set without Document Sets.
ToolPnP XML generator	What it does with featuresUnder Extra you choose which features go on or off.

Overview of SharePoint Online features

One table per subject. The ID is below the name; copy it straight into your template or into Get-PnPFeature.

Document management (5)

Feature and ID	Level	Advice	What it does
Feature and IDDocument ID Service`b50e3104-6812-424f-a011-cc90e6327318`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceUse when needed	What it doesGives every document a fixed ID and a link that keeps working after a move. Needed when the template uses Document ID columns (_dlc_) or settings.
Feature and IDDocument Sets`3bae86a2-776d-499d-9db8-fa4cdc7884f8`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceUse when needed	What it doesMakes the Document Set content type (0x0120D520) available: a folder with its own metadata and a welcome page.
Feature and IDOpen Documents in Client Applications by Default`8a4b8de2-6fd8-41e9-923c-c7c3c00f8295`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceYour choice	What it doesDocuments open in the desktop app by default instead of in the browser.
Feature and IDContent Organizer`7ad5272a-2694-4349-953e-ea5ef290e97c`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceUse when needed	What it doesMoves documents automatically to a library or folder based on rules. Creates a Drop Off Library.
Feature and IDMetadata Navigation and Filtering`7201d6a4-a5d3-49a1-8c19-19c4bac6e668`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceUse when needed	What it doesNavigate and filter by metadata in large libraries. Keep it when libraries in the template use it.

Retention and records (4)

Feature and ID	Level	Advice	What it does
Feature and IDIn Place Records Management`da2e115b-07e4-49d9-bb2c-35e93bb9fca9`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic in-place record declaration. Record labels in Microsoft Purview do not need it.
Feature and IDLibrary and Folder Based Retention`063c26fa-3ccc-4180-8a84-b6f98e991df3`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic retention per library or folder. Replaced by retention policies and labels in Microsoft Purview.
Feature and IDSite Policy`2fcd5f8a-26b7-4a6a-9755-918566dba90a`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic site policy to close and delete sites. Use Purview retention or site lifecycle in SharePoint Advanced Management.
Feature and IDHold`9e56487c-795a-4077-9425-54a1ecb84282`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic hold and eDiscovery per site. Use eDiscovery in Microsoft Purview.

Pages, navigation and display (10)

Feature and ID	Level	Advice	What it does
Feature and IDAudience targeting (modern)`bc13eaf7-67c7-4f85-a80f-a4b0dae5e5bd`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceUse when needed	What it doesAudiences for modern navigation, news and web parts. Keep it when the template uses audiences.
Feature and IDSite page resources`ff77ac56-88d0-4147-b865-e84f5f03fc42`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesResources for modern pages.
Feature and IDEnhanced theming`068bc832-4951-11dc-8314-0800200c9a66`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesTheming.
Feature and IDSharePoint Recommendations`780ac353-eaf8-4ac2-8c47-536d93c03fd6`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceYour choice	What it doesShows "You may also be interested in" below news and pages. Switch it off with Deactivate="true".
Feature and IDSite Pages`b6917cb1-93a0-4b97-a84d-7cf49975d4ec`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesModern pages in the Site Pages library. Already on for every modern site.
Feature and IDNews pages`b0d5ad7e-23bc-4545-98c6-de91686ba8bc`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesNews posts on modern sites.
Feature and IDWiki Page Home Page`00bfea71-d8fe-4fec-8dad-01c19a6e4053`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic wiki home page.
Feature and IDMobile Browser View`d95c97f3-e528-4da2-ae9f-32b3535fbb59`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic mobile view. Modern sites are already mobile-friendly.
Feature and IDMinimal Download Strategy`87294c72-f260-42f3-a41b-981a2ffce37a`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic technique to load pages faster. Does nothing on modern pages.
Feature and IDGetting Started`4aec7207-0d02-4f4f-aa07-b370199cd0c7`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic "Getting started" tiles.

Collaboration (9)

Feature and ID	Level	Advice	What it does
Feature and IDRatings`915c240e-a6cc-49b8-8b2c-0bff8b553ed3`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesInfrastructure for ratings and likes in lists and libraries.
Feature and IDTeam Collaboration Lists`00bfea71-4ea5-48d4-a4ad-7ea5c011abe5`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe standard list and library types of a team site.
Feature and IDFollowing Content`a7a2793e-67cd-4dc1-9fd0-43f61581207a`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesFollow sites and documents.
Feature and IDSite Notebook`f151bb39-7c3b-414f-bb36-6bf18872052f`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe site's OneNote notebook. A group site already has one through the Microsoft 365 group.
Feature and IDSite Feed`15a572c6-e545-4d32-897a-bab6f5846e18`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic site newsfeed.
Feature and IDSite feed controller`5153156a-63af-4fac-b557-91bd8c315432`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesPart of the classic newsfeed.
Feature and IDCommunity Site Feature`961d6a9c-4388-4cf2-9733-38ee8c89afd4`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic community site with discussions and badges. Use Viva Engage or Teams.
Feature and IDProject Functionality`e2f2bb18-891d-4812-97df-c265afdba297`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic project site parts (timeline, tasks).
Feature and IDSite Mailbox`502a2d54-6102-4757-aaa0-a90586106368`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceRetired	What it doesSite mailbox. Retired; use a Microsoft 365 group.

List and library types (13)

Feature and ID	Level	Advice	What it does
Feature and IDAsset library`4bcccd62-dcaf-46dc-a7d4-e38277ef33f4`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic library type for images and media.
Feature and IDPromoted Links`192efa95-e50c-475e-87ab-361cede5dd7f`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic tile list. Use the Quick links web part.
Feature and IDDocument library type`00bfea71-e717-4e80-aa17-d0c71b360101`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe Document library type.
Feature and IDCustom list type`00bfea71-de22-43b2-a848-c05709900100`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe Custom list type.
Feature and IDAnnouncements list type`00bfea71-d1ce-42de-9c63-a44004ce0104`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe classic Announcements list type.
Feature and IDContacts list type`00bfea71-7e6d-4186-9ba8-c047ac750105`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe Contacts list type.
Feature and IDCalendar list type`00bfea71-ec85-4903-972d-ebe475780106`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe Calendar list type.
Feature and IDLinks list type`00bfea71-2062-426c-90bf-714c59600103`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe Links list type.
Feature and IDTasks list type`00bfea71-a83e-497e-9ba0-7a5c597d0107`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe Tasks list type.
Feature and IDPicture library type`00bfea71-52d4-45b3-b544-b1c71b620109`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe Picture library type.
Feature and IDDiscussion board type`00bfea71-6a49-43fa-b535-d15c05500108`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesThe classic discussion board.
Feature and IDSurvey type`00bfea71-eb8a-40b1-80c7-506be7590102`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesThe classic survey. Use Microsoft Forms.
Feature and IDIssue tracking list type`00bfea71-5932-4f9c-ad71-1557e5751100`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe Issue tracking list type.

SharePoint base (16)

Feature and ID	Level	Advice	What it does
Feature and IDLimited-access user permission lockdown mode`7c637b23-06c4-472d-9a9a-7c175762c5c4`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceYour choice	What it doesPeople with limited access (for example through a shared file) cannot open list forms and pages. Extra lockdown.
Feature and IDSharePoint Server Standard Site Collection features`b21b090c-c796-4b0f-ac0f-7ef1659c20ae`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesStandard site collection features.
Feature and IDSharePoint Server Enterprise Site Collection features`8581a8a7-cf16-4770-ac54-260265ddb0b2`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesEnterprise site collection features.
Feature and IDSearch Server Web Parts and Templates`eaf6a128-0482-4f71-9a2f-b1c650680e77`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesSearch web parts and templates.
Feature and IDStandard content types`695b6570-a48b-4a8e-8ea5-26ea7fc1d162`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe standard content types (Item, Document, Folder …).
Feature and IDStandard columns`ca7bd552-10b1-4563-85b9-5ed1d39c962a`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesThe standard site columns.
Feature and IDBasic web parts`00bfea71-1c5e-4a24-b310-ba51c3eb7a57`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesBasic web parts.
Feature and IDManaged metadata`73ef14b1-13a9-416b-a9b5-ececa2b0604c`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesManaged metadata columns (term store). On as soon as the site uses metadata.
Feature and IDHelp collection`232b3f94-9d6e-4ed6-8d55-04d5a44ac449`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesDefault help settings.
Feature and IDVisio Web Access`9fec40ea-a949-407d-be09-6cba26470a0c`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesVisio drawings in the browser.
Feature and IDCustom Site Collection Help`57ff23fc-ec05-4dd8-b7ed-d93faa7c795d`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesCustom classic help library.
Feature and IDDeveloper site`e374875e-06b6-11e0-b0fa-57f5dfd72085`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesDeveloper site for classic add-ins.
Feature and IDInfoPath Forms Services`c88c4ff1-dbf5-4649-ad9f-c6c426ebcbf5`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesInfoPath forms in the browser. InfoPath is outdated; use Power Apps or Microsoft Forms.
Feature and IDSharePoint Server Standard Site features`99fe402e-89a0-45aa-9163-85342e865dc8`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesStandard site features.
Feature and IDSharePoint Server Enterprise Site features`0806d127-06e6-447a-980e-2e90b03101b8`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceAlready on	What it doesEnterprise site features.
Feature and IDInfoPath Forms Services (site)`a0e5a010-1329-49d4-9e09-f280cdbed37d`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesInfoPath forms. Outdated.

Managed by Microsoft (10)

Feature and ID	Level	Advice	What it does
Feature and IDContent Type Syndication Hub`9a447926-5937-44cb-857a-d3829301c73b`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceMicrosoft manages	What it doesBelongs only to the tenant's content type hub. Never in a site template.
Feature and IDTenant sites list`3019c9b4-e371-438d-98f6-0a08c34d06eb`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceMicrosoft manages	What it doesInternal SharePoint Online feature.
Feature and IDGlobal hold`2a6bf8e8-10b5-42f2-9d3e-267dfb0de8d4`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceMicrosoft manages	What it doesPart of holding content in Microsoft 365. Managed by Microsoft.
Feature and IDShare with everyone`10f73b29-5779-46b3-85a8-4817a6e9a6c2`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceMicrosoft manages	What it doesPart of the tenant's sharing settings.
Feature and IDGuest integration`9836d446-3785-4579-8480-a27d5c965b19`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceMicrosoft manages	What it doesGuest access in SharePoint Online.
Feature and IDVersion history policy (async)`371a9b45-6923-41d8-9f5d-6c4506e51b2e`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceMicrosoft manages	What it doesApplies version limits to the site (version history). Managed by Microsoft; the setting itself lives in site and tenant settings.
Feature and IDSharePoint start page cache`94280101-dc63-4b83-842a-8707b1afb62d`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceMicrosoft manages	What it doesFor the SharePoint start page.
Feature and IDViva Topics configuration`d28fa327-96ef-445e-8019-d62455a5630d`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceRetired	What it doesBelonged to Viva Topics. Microsoft retired Viva Topics in 2025.
Feature and IDConnect to new Microsoft 365 group`5007df5b-1eea-49f8-9c02-5debc81ce3f2`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceMicrosoft manages	What it doesThe button to connect a classic site to a Microsoft 365 group.
Feature and IDMaintenance logs`8c6f9096-388d-4eed-96ff-698b3ec46fc4`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceMicrosoft manages	What it doesInternal SharePoint Online feature.

Publishing (classic) (9)

Feature and ID	Level	Advice	What it does
Feature and IDSharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure`f6924d36-2fa8-4f0b-b16d-06b7250180fa`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic publishing infrastructure (page layouts, master pages). Not needed on modern sites; activating it makes the site heavier.
Feature and IDPublishing prerequisites`a392da98-270b-4e85-9769-04c0fde267aa`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesPart of classic publishing.
Feature and IDPublishing resources`aebc918d-b20f-4a11-a1db-9ed84d79c87e`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesPart of classic publishing.
Feature and IDPublishing layouts`d3f51be2-38a8-4e44-ba84-940d35be1566`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesPage layouts of classic publishing.
Feature and IDCross-Site Collection Publishing`151d22d9-95a8-4904-a0a3-22e4db85d1e0`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic: show content from a catalog in another site collection.
Feature and IDSearch-driven content`592ccb4a-9304-49ab-aab1-66638198bb58`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic search-driven web parts.
Feature and IDMedia web part`5b79b49a-2da6-4161-95bd-7375c1995ef9`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic media web part.
Feature and IDSharePoint Server Publishing`94c94ca6-b32f-4da9-a9e3-1f3d343d7ecb`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesClassic publishing at site level. Not needed on modern sites.
Feature and IDPublishing`22a9ef51-737b-4ff2-9346-694633fe4416`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceClassic	What it doesPart of classic publishing.

Workflows (retired) (5)

Feature and ID	Level	Advice	What it does
Feature and IDWorkflows`0af5989a-3aea-4519-8ab0-85d91abe39ff`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceRetired	What it doesSharePoint 2010 workflows. Retired; use Power Automate.
Feature and IDDisposition Approval Workflow`c85e5759-f323-4efb-b548-443d2216efb5`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceRetired	What it doesClassic disposal approval workflow. Use disposition review in Purview.
Feature and IDThree-state workflow`fde5d850-671e-4143-950a-87b473922dc7`	Level`SiteFeatures`	AdviceRetired	What it doesClassic three-state workflow. Retired.
Feature and IDWorkflow Task content type`57311b7a-9afd-4ff0-866e-9393ad6647b1`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceRetired	What it doesTasks for SharePoint workflows. Retired.
Feature and IDWorkflow service store`2c63df2b-ceab-42c6-aeff-b3968162d4b1`	Level`WebFeatures`	AdviceRetired	What it doesSharePoint 2013 workflows. Microsoft retired them; use Power Automate.

Sources: Microsoft’s feature list for SharePoint Server (TechNet archive), published Get-PnPFeature output of SharePoint Online sites and the PnP documentation. SharePoint Online changes; when in doubt, check in your own tenant.