SharePoint Limitations: Version-wise Explained

SharePoint Online Limitations exist for every SharePoint version. They need to be taken care of in order to successfully utilize it to its complete potential.

SharePoint is often the choice for team collaboration and document management but SharePoint Limitations too need to be taken care of.

There are many benefits to using SharePoint, whichever version it might be. But there are a few limitations and restrictions in each SharePoint version that are noteworthy. Let’s see some of these limitations.

Major SharePoint Limitations mentioned version-wiseNumber of site collections

SharePoint Online: The maximum number of site collections that can be created in a tenant is 2 million.

SharePoint 2019 server: The maximum recommended number of site collections per farm is 500,000 Personal Sites plus 250,000 for all other site templates.

SharePoint 2016 server: The maximum recommended number of site collections per farm is 500,000 Personal Sites plus 250,000 for all other site templates.

SharePoint 2013 server: The maximum recommended number of site collections per farm is 500,000 Personal Sites plus 250,000 for all other site templates.

SharePoint 2010 server: The maximum recommended number of site collections per farm is 5000 (2000 recommended).

Site collection size

SharePoint Online: Maximum storage per site collection is 25TB.

SharePoint 2019 server: Maximum size of the content database (200GB – 4TB).

SharePoint 2016 server: Maximum size of the content database (200GB – 4TB).

SharePoint 2013 server: Maximum size of the content database (200GB – 4TB).

SharePoint 2010 server: Maximum storage per site collection is 100GB.

Number of subsites per site collection

SharePoint Online: A maximum of 2000 subsites can be added per site collection.

SharePoint 2019 server: A maximum of 250,000 sites can be added per site collection (2000 recommended).

SharePoint 2016 server: A maximum of 250,000 sites can be added per site collection (2000 recommended).

SharePoint 2013 server: A maximum of 250,000 sites can be added per site collection (2000 recommended).

SharePoint 2010 server: A maximum of 250,000 sites can be added per site collection.

Number of items in a list

All SharePoint Versions: A maximum of 30 million items can be created in a list.

List attachment

All SharePoint Versions: A maximum file size of 250MB can be added to a list item.

Number of Documents in a library

All SharePoint Versions: A maximum of 30 million files can be created in a library.

File/Folder name restrictions

SharePoint Online: File/folder name can be of a maximum of 400 characters. Total URL path can also be a maximum of 400 characters. These names aren’t allowed for files or folders:?.lock,?CON,?PRN,?AUX,?NUL,?COM0?-?COM9,?LPT0?-?LPT9,?_vti_,?desktop.ini, any file/folder name starting with?~ $. File/folder name cannot contain these characters ( " * :? / \ | )

SharePoint 2019 server: File/folder name can be of maximum of 400 characters. Total URL path can also be a maximum of 400 characters. These names aren’t allowed for files or folders: _vti_, any folder name starting with?. ~?. File/folder name cannot contain these characters ( " * :? / \ | )

SharePoint 2016 server: File/folder name can be of maximum 260 characters. Total URL path can also be a maximum of 260 characters. These names aren’t allowed for files or folders: _vti_, any folder name starting with?. ~?. File/folder name cannot contain these characters ( " * # % :? / \ | )

SharePoint 2013 server: File/folder name can be of maximum 128 characters. Total URL path can also be a maximum of 260 characters. These names aren’t allowed for files or folders: _vti_, any folder name starting with?. ~?. File/folder name cannot contain these characters ( ~ " # % & * :? / \ { | } )

SharePoint 2010 server: File/folder name can be of maximum 128 characters. Total URL path can also be a maximum of 260 characters. These names aren’t allowed for files or folders: _vti_, any folder name starting with?. ~?. File/folder name cannot contain these characters ( ~ " # % & * :? / \ { | } )

Blocked File types

SharePoint online: No file types are blocked if allow custom script option is enabled in Admin center. If that option is prevented these file types are blocked (.aspx.asmx.ascx.master.xap.swf.jar.xsf.htc)

SharePoint 2019 server: No file types are blocked.

SharePoint 2016 server: These file types are blocked (.ashx.asmx.json.soap.svc)

SharePoint 2013 server: These file types are blocked (ade, adp, asa, ashx, asmx, asp, bas, bat, cdx, cer, chm, class, cmd, cnt, com, config, cpl, crt, csh, der, dll, exe, fxp, gadget, grp, hlp, hpj, hta, htr, htw, ida, idc, idq, ins, isp, its, jse, json, ksh, lnk, mad, maf, mag, mam, maq, mar, mas, mat, mau, mav, maw, mcf, mda, mdb, mde, mdt, mdw, mdz, msc, msh, msh1, msh1xml, msh2, msh2xml, mshxml, msi, ms-one-stub, msp, mst, ops, pcd, pif, pl, prf, prg, printer, ps1, ps1xml, ps2, ps2xml, psc1, psc2, pst, reg, rem, scf, scr, sct, shb, shs, shtm, shtml, soap, stm, svc, url, vb, vbe, vbs, vsix, ws, wsc, wsf, wsh, xamlx)

SharePoint 2010 server: (ade, adp, app, asa, ashx, asmx, asp, bas, bat, cdx, cer, chm, class, cmd, cnt, com, config, cpl, crt, csh, der, dll, exe fxp, gadget, grp, hlp, hpj, hta, htr, htw, ida, idc, idq, ins isp, its, jse, ksh, lnk, mad, maf, mag, mam, maq mar, mas, mat, mau, mav, maw, mcf, mda, mdb, mde mdt, mdw, mdz, msc, msh, msh1, msh1xml, msh2, msh2xml, mshxml, msi, ms-one-stub, msp, mst, ops pcd, pif, pl, prf, prg, printer, ps1, ps1xml, ps2, ps2xml psc1, psc2, pst, reg, rem, scf, scr, sct, shb, shs, shtm, shtml, soap, stm, svc, url, vb, vbe, vbs, ws, wsc, wsf, wsh)

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