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Site Activity Web Part

The Site Activity web part automatically displays the most recent actions on your site - files uploaded, documents edited, lists and libraries created, and other updates. There is nothing to configure beyond how many items appear: add the web part and the feed populates on its own, refreshing as new activity happens. The feed covers the current site only and cannot be filtered.
Author
Microsoft

Benefits

  • Zero setup: add the web part and the feed populates on its own, with nothing to configure beyond the item count.
  • Always current: the feed refreshes automatically as files are uploaded, documents are edited, and lists are created.
  • Instant pulse check: visitors open the page and immediately see what colleagues have been working on.
  • Encourages engagement: visible momentum on the page signals an active, healthy team site.

Settings

  • File uploads: new documents added to the site’s libraries.
  • File edits: recent changes to existing documents.
  • Lists and libraries created: new containers on the site show up as activity.
  • Other recent content updates: the feed covers recent actions across the site and populates the moment the web part is added.

Limits and Nuances

  • Show this many items at a time is the only setting: enter a number to control how many activities display. There is no source picker, no filter, and no way to choose which content appears.
  • The feed cannot be filtered: there is no way to limit activity to a specific library, list, or content type. Use the Highlighted Content web part sorted by recently changed when you need that control.
  • Individual items cannot be pinned, hidden, or removed: the feed is fully automatic.
  • Activity covers the current site only: it does not aggregate activity from other sites or across a hub.
  • No setup is required: the feed starts populating the moment you add the web part to the page.
  • The feed refreshes automatically as new changes occur: no republishing needed to show fresh activity.
  • The default team site home page already shows site activity out-of-the-box: check before adding a duplicate.

Site Activity vs. the Alternatives

  • Site Activity vs. Highlighted Content: Highlighted Content lets you choose the source, filter, and sort (including by recently changed); Site Activity is zero configuration but zero control. Pick Highlighted Content when filtering matters.
  • Site Activity vs. News: News shows updates that authors deliberately publish; Site Activity shows what is happening behind the scenes with files and lists.
  • Site Activity vs. Document Library web part: the Document Library web part displays one library’s full contents; Site Activity shows just the latest actions across the whole site.
  • Site Activity vs. the Sites web part: the Sites web part summarizes activity across many sites at a glance; Site Activity drills into the recent actions within one site.

Common Questions About the Site Activity Web Part

What does the Site Activity web part show in SharePoint?

It shows a feed of the most recent actions on the current site – files uploaded, documents edited, lists and libraries created, and similar updates. Each item links to the content, so visitors can jump straight to what changed. It is a quick pulse check for a team site: open the page and immediately see what colleagues have been working on.

How do I set up the Site Activity web part?

There is no setup. Add the web part to a modern page and the latest activity is pulled in automatically. The only thing to configure is how many items display – a single Show this many items at a time setting where you enter a number. That simplicity is the point – it is the easiest web part in SharePoint to use.

Can I filter the activity to a specific library or content type?

No. The web part has no filters – you cannot limit it to one library, one list, or one content type, and you cannot hide individual items. If you need that control, use the Highlighted Content web part instead: point it at a specific library, filter by type or properties, and sort by recently changed for a similar freshest-first effect.

Does the Site Activity web part update automatically?

Yes. The feed refreshes automatically as new activity happens on the site – you never republish the page to update it. That makes it a good fit for active team sites where documents change daily. On a sleepy site the opposite is true: a stale activity feed quietly advertises that nothing is happening, so place it where there is real collaboration.

How many items does the Site Activity web part show?

As many as you set. The single Show this many items at a time setting takes a number and controls how many recent activities appear in the feed. There are no other options – no source picker and no filters – so the count is the only thing you tune. Keep it modest on a busy site so the feed stays scannable.

When should I use Site Activity instead of News or Highlighted Content?

Use News for updates people deliberately publish, Highlighted Content when you need filtered or curated documents, and Site Activity when you want an effortless, always-current pulse of what is changing on the site. The team site designs on LookBook 365 place this exact web part alongside News and Quick Links – out-of-the-box only, the way Greg Zelfond builds every design.