Change the default view of a SharePoint list
Short answer: only a public view can be the default. Switch to the view you want, open Edit current view, tick "Make this the default view", and select OK.
Steps in the modern experience
Exact names may differ on your screen.
- Select View options, then the view name shown there, and pick the view you want as the default.
- Select View options again, then Edit current view.
- On the Edit View page, tick "Make this the default view".
- Select OK.
Classic experience
Microsoft says to select "Make this the default view" on the Settings page when you create or modify a view.
If the tick box is not there
- Personal view: Microsoft says you can't make a personal view the default. It is visible only to its creator, and it can't be turned into a public view.
- Permission: Microsoft says you need permission to create a public view, and without it the option is not displayed. In the classic experience, a disabled Create a Public View needs the Designer group or equivalent permissions.
- View options missing: Microsoft says you may lack permission and should contact your Microsoft 365 admin or the site or list owners.
A gallery view as the default
Create the view first. Under Show as, choose List, Calendar or Gallery. Microsoft notes calendar needs a start date and an end date, and that "The Gallery view option is only available in SharePoint Online." Then follow the steps above on that view. See "Use and format the gallery view in a SharePoint list".
Related
Our advice, not a Microsoft rule: after you set the default, ask one teammate to open the list link and tell you which view loads first. To show each person only their own items, see "Show each person only their own items in a SharePoint list view".
When to get help
You can build all of this yourself in Microsoft 365. If you would rather have it built and tested for your team, I do that. A tracker like this is a fixed price: $5,000 for one, built in 2 weeks. See "What a SharePoint tracker costs to build". Bring one example of the problem to a free call.
I am Al Davies. I run 250 High Street LLC and build SharePoint trackers and Power Automate flows for operations teams. I work remotely. The first call is free, and I will not try to sell you anything.
See trackers I built: Tools I built
FAQ
How do I change the default view in a SharePoint list?
Open View options, Edit current view, tick Make this the default view, then OK.
Why can't I set a view as default?
Personal views can't be the default, and you need permission to create a public view.
Can I make a gallery view the default in SharePoint?
Yes, once it exists as a public view. Microsoft says Gallery view is only available in SharePoint Online.
What is the difference between a personal and a public view?
Microsoft says a personal view is visible only to its creator.
Can I change a view type after I create it?
Microsoft says that in the classic experience you can't change the format of a view once created. Make a new view.