Differences between modern and classic experiences for lists and libraries

The ribbon toolbars

• The classic ribbon is replaced by a command bar in the modern experience.

• Certain features are only available through the classic ribbon:

  • Popularity trends

  • RSS Feed

  • Most Popular Items

  • Connect to Outlook

  • Connect to Office

  • Export to Excel

    Note: Export to Excel is available only in the classic experience for document libraries (and only in Internet Explorer). However, it is available in the modern experience for lists (in Internet Explorer and Edge only).

  • Open with Access

  • Form Web Parts

  • Edit Library

  • New Quick Step

  • Declare Record

  • Send To

  • Follow

View features

• Item totals

• Custom styles (such as Basic Table or Document Details)

• Multiple web parts on list view pages

• Features that configure different view availability depending on the folder

Navigation features

• Tree view

• Per-location views

• Customized navigation links on publishing sites

Column types

• External data columns

• Geolocation columns

• Publishing columns (Publishing HTML, Publishing Image, Publishing Hyperlink)

Customization types

• List templates other than Document Library, Custom List, Announcements List, Links List, Picture Library, Asset Library, Promoted Links, Form Library, Wiki Page Library, Asset Library, Promoted Links and Wiki Page Library.

  Note: The modern experience for the Issue Tracking List, Contacts List, and Custom List in Datasheet View are being introduced gradually to organizations that have opted in to the Targeted Release program. This means that you may still see lists with those templates in the classic experience.

• Customize in InfoPath

• Minimal Download Strategy (MDS)

• SharePoint Server Publishing

• JSLink code on fields or views

• Customization of list views through the XSL link property of the XsltListViewWebPart

• CustomActions that include ScriptBlock or ScriptSrc properties

  CustomActions that do not include ScriptBlock or ScriptSrc properties will continue to work as expected

Other features

• Content organizer

• Follow

• Limited-access user permission lockdown mode

Column types

• External data columns

• Geolocation columns

• Publishing columns (Publishing HTML, Publishing Image, Publishing Hyperlink)

Permissions

• Limited-access user permission lockdown mode

Customizations

• List templates other than Document Library, Custom List, Announcements List, Links List, Picture Library, Asset Library, Promoted Links, Form Library and Wiki Page Library

• Customizing a list form by setting the ContentType.EditFormUrl or ContentType.NewFormUrl properties to point to a custom form URL.
  
   

  Notes: 

  • Classic list forms support the following customizations:

  • 1.  Set the ContentType.EditFormUrl or ContentType.NewFormUrl properties to point to a custom form URL 
    2.  Adding a Content Editor Web Part or other web part to the form page
    3.  Adding a JSLink to one or more fields that appear on the form.

  • Only the first customization listed above will trigger a fallback to classic mode on the form. 

• CustomActions on the list that include ScriptBlock or ScriptSrc properties

• A list view page with any web part other than the list view web part

• Document set welcome pages