How to Find the Administrator of a SharePoint Site? Let's Find

Have you ever found yourself struggling to identify the administrator of a SharePoint site? Knowing who manages the site is crucial for addressing permissions, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring smooth collaboration. Whether you're an end-user trying to resolve an access issue or an IT professional aiming to update permissions, finding the right person is key.

This guide will walk you through how to find the administrator of a SharePoint site using various methods, including Site Settings, the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, and even PowerShell for advanced users.

Why It’s Important to Identify a SharePoint Administrator?

Understanding why you need to find the administrator of a SharePoint site is just as crucial as knowing how to do it. The SharePoint administrator serves as the backbone of the platform, ensuring the smooth management of user permissions, data security, and content organization. They play a pivotal role in troubleshooting technical issues and maintaining compliance with organizational policies.

For example, if you encounter restricted access to critical documents or need to adjust permissions for a new team member, the admin is your go-to person. Without a clear understanding of who this individual is, resolving these challenges can become a time-consuming process that hinders productivity.

Moreover, the administrator ensures that the site adheres to company-wide security policies. Whether it's protecting sensitive information or monitoring user activities, their role is essential for maintaining a secure and functional SharePoint environment. Neglecting to identify the admin can lead to bottlenecks in operations, data breaches, and mismanaged permissions.

How to Find the Administrator of a SharePoint Site: Methods

Using Site Settings

The easiest way to find the administrator of a SharePoint site is through Site Settings. This method is straightforward and accessible if you have sufficient permissions to view the site configuration. Here’s how you can do it step-by-step:

1. Navigate to the SharePoint Site: Log in to your SharePoint account and open the site where you want to find the administrator.
2. Access Site Settings: Look for the settings gear icon in the top-right corner of the page. Click it, and select “Site Settings” from the dropdown menu.
3. View Site Permissions: Under the “Users and Permissions” section, click on “Site Permissions.” This will open a page displaying all users and groups with access to the site.
4. Identify Admins with Full Control: On the permissions page, look for users or groups with the “Full Control” permission level. These are typically the site administrators. If a group is listed, you may need to click on it to see individual members.
5. Verify the Admin: If multiple individuals or groups have “Full Control,” you may need to verify who is actively managing the site by contacting the listed users or consulting the IT department.

Using Microsoft 365 Admin Center?

The Microsoft 365 Admin Center is another effective way to find the administrator of a SharePoint site, especially for organizational administrators or IT staff. This method is ideal when you need to locate admins for multiple sites or require more detailed control over site management.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Log in to the Admin Center: Go to admin.microsoft.com and log in with your Microsoft 365 administrator account.
2. Navigate to Active Sites: From the left-hand menu, select “Show All” to expand the options. Under the “Admin Centers” section, click on “SharePoint.” Once inside the SharePoint Admin Center, choose “Active Sites.”
3. Search for the Site: Use the search bar to locate the SharePoint site you’re managing.
4. View Site Details: Click on the site name to open its details pane. Here, you’ll see a list of admins assigned to the site. This list typically includes the primary administrator(s) and additional owners if they’ve been designated.
5. Update or Confirm Admins: If necessary, you can assign new admins or update existing roles directly within this interface.

Why Use This Method?

• It’s useful for verifying admin assignments across multiple sites.
• It allows IT staff to manage and update permissions efficiently.

Using PowerShell for Advanced Users?

PowerShell is a powerful tool for IT professionals looking for how to find the administrator of a SharePoint site, especially in larger organizations with multiple sites. By leveraging PowerShell, you can quickly retrieve detailed information about site admins without navigating through multiple interfaces.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Install the Required Modules:

Install-Module -Name Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell

2. Connect to SharePoint Online:

Connect-SPOService -Url https://yourdomain-admin.sharepoint.com

3. Replace your domain with your organization’s SharePoint domain. You’ll be prompted to log in with your administrator credentials.

4. Retrieve Site Admins:

Get-SPOSite -Identity https://yourdomain.sharepoint.com/sites/sitename | Select-Object Owner, SecondaryOwner

5. Replace the Sitename with the name of the SharePoint site. The output will display the primary and secondary site owners.

Why Use PowerShell?

• Efficiency: Ideal for bulk admin identification across multiple sites.
• Automation: Scripts can be reused for regular admin audits.

Conclusion

Finding the administrator of a SharePoint site is essential for maintaining site security, managing permissions, and ensuring that the right people have control over content and settings. Whether you're looking to assign new permissions, resolve a permissions issue, or simply understand who’s managing the site, there are several methods available to help you know how to find the administrator of a SharePoint site.?