SharePoint Classic Sites Modernization: Free Course Guide

SharePoint Classic Sites Modernization Guidance is a short, decision-focused course on moving SharePoint classic sites to the modern experience. It is for SharePoint administrators, Microsoft 365 architects and IT leads who have a pile of classic sites and need to decide what to modernize, how to do it and what to leave alone.

Rather than a click-by-click tutorial, it works as a roadmap. It explains why classic sites hold you back, when you should not modernize, how to choose the right path, the six areas that matter most in an in-place modernization, and how to carry out the work. The course is 6 videos, about 35 minutes in total, free on YouTube and listed on the SharePoint classic modernization course page.

Who this course is for

• SharePoint and Microsoft 365 administrators who are responsible for older classic sites.
• Architects and consultants who need to plan or estimate a modernization project.
• IT managers who must decide whether modernization is worth the effort, and in what order.
• Developers who will be asked to rebuild classic customisations in a modern way.

The catalog marks it Intermediate. You should already know SharePoint sites, lists and libraries, and ideally have worked with at least one classic site.

What you will learn

1. The modernization roadmap. SharePoint Classic Sites: Your Modernization Roadmap is a brief opener that frames the journey. It is worth watching first so the later videos fit into one picture.

2. The case for change. Why SharePoint Classic Sites Are Holding You Back sets out the cost of staying on classic. A clear case for change is what wins time and budget from the business, so this video also helps you explain the project to others.

3. When not to modernize. When NOT to Modernize SharePoint Classic Sites is the video many projects skip, and the one that saves the most effort. Not every site deserves modernization, and knowing which ones to leave alone keeps a project realistic. A short list of sites that truly matter is far easier to deliver, and to defend, than a promise to modernize everything at once.

4. Choosing the path. Classic SharePoint Modernization: Which Path Is Right? compares the routes available so you can match each site to the right approach instead of using one method for everything.

5. In-place modernization in practice. In-Place SharePoint Modernization: The 6 Areas That Actually Matter and How to Execute SharePoint Modernization are the two longest videos, at about 10 and 13 minutes. They cover where to focus during an in-place modernization and how to actually run the work.

How the course is organised

There are 6 videos and about 35 minutes in total, numbered 00 to 05:

• 00: the roadmap (just over a minute).
• 01–02: why classic sites hold you back, and when not to modernize (about three minutes each).
• 03: choosing the right path.
• 04–05: the six areas of in-place modernization, then execution.

The videos build from the decision to the delivery, so watch them in order. The whole course fits into a single sitting.

How to study it step by step

1. List your classic sites first. Even a rough spreadsheet with site name, owner and last activity makes the course much more practical.
2. Watch videos 00–02, then mark each site in your list as “modernize”, “do not modernize” or “not sure yet”, using the reasons from the “when not to” video.
3. Watch video 03 and add a column for the path you would choose for each site you plan to modernize.
4. Watch video 04 with one real site open and check that site against each of the six areas.
5. Watch video 05 and turn your list into a phased plan: a pilot site first, then batches.
6. Share the plan with site owners before you change anything. Modernization changes how people work, so their input matters.

This course currently has no Skills Pragati hands-on lab guide, practice simulation or mock exam.

Frequently asked questions

Is the SharePoint modernization course free?

Yes. All 6 videos are free on YouTube, and the course page lists them in order.

How long does it take?

The videos total about 35 minutes. Applying the guidance to your own sites, by building the inventory and a phased plan, will take longer depending on how many classic sites you have.

Do I need admin access to SharePoint?

Not to watch. To act on the guidance, you will need appropriate SharePoint admin or site owner rights in your tenant. Always pilot changes on a test or low-risk site first.

What should I learn next?

If modernization means rebuilding classic customisations, Step By Step SPFx Development teaches SharePoint Framework web parts. For scripting site governance, Microsoft Graph with PowerShell Step By Step includes a scenario on managing SharePoint site sprawl.