13 Proven Ways to Fix SharePoint Slow Performance Issues

SharePoint slow performance frustrates teams and stalls projects—especially when your offices span the globe and daily work hinges on seamless, compliant access in and out of China.

We understand the unique challenges facing multinational firms. This article breaks down 13 proven methods, based on real implementations, to identify causes and deliver fast, stable SharePoint experiences across borders, languages, and local regulations.

Here’s how to regain control of your SharePoint environment.

1. Diagnose Network Connectivity and Bandwidth Bottlenecks

Global SharePoint setups can grind to a halt for your teams in China if the network foundation is shaky. Network connectivity, latency, and regional ISP quirks are the heart of slow SharePoint complaints we troubleshoot for multinational firms.

Top connectivity problems we solve for clients:

• Slow cross-border data flow: China’s Great Firewall rewrites the speed rules, amplifying every hop and sometimes stretching a simple page load from milliseconds to seconds. Expect up to 50% slower site loads inside China versus global offices.
• Regional ISP congestion: Local internet bottlenecks hit global SharePoint performance hardest during China’s working hours. When traffic spikes, so do support tickets.
• Packet loss and unstable lines: We consistently find packet loss at international routing points. This kills upload speeds and triggers document sync failures.
• Inconsistent bandwidth: Even “fast” plans can suffer massive drops during peak hours, especially for cloud SharePoint or Microsoft 365.

For many clients, we recommend SD-WAN or an MPLS backbone with an ICP license. These trusted options reduce jitter and packet loss without compliance headaches. Where cloud is essential, local caching and split-tunneling boost speed for everyone logged in—no matter the time zone.

Reliable, high-bandwidth international connectivity is the single most important factor in cross-border SharePoint speed.

2. Optimize SharePoint Architecture and Resource Allocation

SharePoint performance hinges on solid technical design. If your architecture grows messy, it will slow every user, everywhere.

Why Architecture Matters

A strong setup means front-end servers, app tiers, and database servers each handle what they do best. This kind of separation prevents resource battles and keeps things fast as user counts rise. We see pain start when firms lump too much onto a single server or ignore Microsoft’s scaling benchmarks.

Key wins clients achieve with the right architecture:

• Dedicated database and web front ends drive up performance fast, especially for offices over 500 users.
• Load balancing across multiple servers is critical to handle spikes—especially in China, where network instability makes server clustering near users a smart move.
• Splitting services and scaling resources by usage patterns avoids single points of failure and costly downtime.

Regular architecture reviews let you stay ahead as your teams expand, span time zones, or dive into full M365 workloads. We urge all cross-border clients to benchmark, test, and tweak setup as growth and business needs shift.

3. Reduce Customizations and Heavy Web Parts on Key Pages

Bloated SharePoint pages kill productivity. We find most slow homepages suffer from years of layering custom, third-party or legacy web parts that now only drag down speed.

Slim Down for Speed

Practical fixes pay off quickly:

• Trim out dated or unused widgets, keeping only the essentials for user tasks. This alone can halve slow homepage load times.
• Use modern SharePoint web parts, avoiding classic types that trigger higher bandwidth and longer renders, especially in China’s network reality.
• Restyle or archive pages with too many embedded Power BI, Excel, or Visio elements. Clients report a 25-50% boost to site launch speeds.
• Audit closed but undeleted web parts, which keep stealing resources even when hidden.

We use SharePoint Page Diagnostics daily to identify and axe these bottlenecks, giving users in low-bandwidth environments an experience that matches global standards.

4. Enable and Tune Caching for Faster Content Delivery

Smart caching changes the game for SharePoint speed, especially when your teams operate in China or other bandwidth-restricted regions. Setting up caching right gets users what they need, faster.

Cache for Global Performance

Let’s break down high-impact strategies:

• Boost SharePoint object and BLOB cache sizes for busy intranets, and enforce regular cache clears to keep content fresh.
• Deploy local or China-based CDNs where possible. Foreign CDN nodes are often blocked or limited, but in-country edge cache can slash load times by up to 60%.
• Enable aggressive browser caching for repeat users visiting the same content daily.
• Tune distributed cache settings: It pays off for high-collaboration teams if you monitor for cache hits and misses.

The right cache settings match your region, user habits, and compliance requirements—no templates, only tailored action.

5. Minimize Database Fragmentation and Optimize SQL Server

Your SharePoint SQL databases shape site speed. Over time, fragmentation and poor SQL tuning start to choke every query, especially as files and users pile up.

Winning strategies we apply for multinational clients:

• Schedule regular index rebuilds and reorganizations to prevent 2-5x slowdowns from database drag.
• Use Remote BLOB Storage to keep large files outside SQL, reducing database size and backup headaches.
• Maintain content databases under 200GB each. Split or shard as you grow, keeping every site agile.
• Dedicate SQL resources for SharePoint, avoiding slowdowns from resource sharing.

We’ve seen organizations cut list view load times and query lag dramatically with consistent database housekeeping. This routine is non-negotiable at scale.

6. Clean Up and Maintain Large Document Libraries and Lists

Massive document libraries and lists are often the hidden enemy. Hitting SharePoint’s 5,000-item threshold causes failed views and battered performance across the globe.

Best Practices for List and Library Health

To keep big libraries fast and user-friendly:

• Use folders, indexed views, and metadata navigation to minimize the items loaded per view. This drastically cuts down timeouts.
• Archive or split libraries over 100,000 items. Document sets and well-defined folder rules support compliance and usability.
• Automate cleanups and enforce file-size limits. Prune out old attachments that trigger SQL slowdowns.
• Regularly audit and re-index to keep lists manageable. After cleanup, firms report up to 70% fewer user complaints about errors or slow actions.

This is high-stakes digital hygiene. Tight list management equals happier, more productive teams.

7. Compress and Optimize Images, Videos, and Assets

Heavy media files are a silent site killer, especially in locations where bandwidth is premium. Over and over, we see uncompressed images and videos adding seconds to page loads for China-based users.

Fast Asset Management

Our proven approach:

• Compress images before upload, using tools like Photoshop or TinyPNG. PNG and high-res JPEG bloat can increase a page by up to 10MB.
• Embed videos using local streaming platforms or Microsoft Stream, not direct file uploads. Streaming works better behind the Great Firewall.
• Audit and trim unused banners, old logos, and redundant media. This keeps asset libraries lean.
• Set library versioning rules so outdated files don’t crowd your database.

Frequent audits of media assets keep teams productive and pages snappy, especially on restricted lines.

8. Remove Unused Closed Web Parts and Hidden Components

Hidden components sap resources even when users can’t see them. Over time, legacy sites fill with “closed” but undeleted web parts and stray code.

The Impact of Hidden Baggage

We spot these sneaky lag-makers with Web Part Maintenance and custom scripts. Pages weighed down by closed parts can use up to 30% more CPU, hurting every click.

• Regularly audit pages to remove closed web parts and spot third-party scripts that conflict with company standards.
• Leverage scripts to scan large site collections, making cleanup consistent—especially after mergers or big reorganizations.
• Track and document legacy elements, reducing risk during upgrades and SharePoint migrations.

Page speed and security both improve when these hidden hitchhikers are gone.

Routine cleanup of closed and hidden web parts is a fast path to a smoother, safer SharePoint experience.

9. Regularly Audit and Tune SharePoint Custom Code and Workflows

Custom code and workflows bring useful features. But when left unchecked, they can bring SharePoint to its knees. Outdated scripts, looping flows, and memory leaks often hide in plain sight.

Why Code Audits Matter

We see slowdowns triggered by forgotten SharePoint Designer workflows or ageing third-party add-ons, especially following system upgrades or mergers.

Key ways to clean up:

• Review custom code and event handlers quarterly. Tools like SPCAF and SharePoint Health Analyzer quickly flag risks and inefficiencies.
• Target legacy web parts and redundant logic from previous developers. Updating these can eliminate bugs that slow the site.
• Monitor for resource-intensive jobs and memory leaks, especially with .NET objects like SPSite or SPWeb. These are a leading cause of surprise server restarts.
• Sandbox risky code segments to protect your broader environment.

Constant vigilance over customizations keeps performance steady and prepares you for future change.

Regular code reviews are the difference between proactive performance and a string of recurring slowdowns.

10. Monitor Server and Resource Utilization Continuously

Unmonitored servers cause trouble. Many firms only spot SharePoint slow performance after user complaints pile up. Proactive resource monitoring prevents this chaos.

Essential Metrics and Practices

Keep these metrics on your radar:

• CPU, RAM, and disk I/O stats—sluggish response usually ties back to one of these.
• Network usage and disk latency during file syncs.
• Custom dashboards using Power BI or Grafana to give real-time views across offices.

Set alerts for spikes (like CPU over 80% or network bottlenecks), not just failures. We often set up local, China-compliant monitoring tools for cross-border teams because remote telemetry can fail regulatory checks.

Analyze maintenance schedules and usage trends to spot needs before hitting limits. Strong monitoring is your first responder for global SharePoint health.

11. Address SharePoint Online Throttling and Service Limits

Microsoft 365 throttling hits hardest when workloads peak or syncs go wild. For China-based users on global tenants, standard limits feel even tighter, and bulk tasks can escalate the pain.

Best Moves to Avoid Throttling

• Distribute heavy operations, migrations, or syncs outside local peak times.
• Use OneDrive’s offline sync to reduce real-time bandwidth stress for large libraries.
• Monitor API request rates and sync schedules to prevent service lockouts.

We urge all clients to avoid risky proxies or bypass tools, which can land your firm in regulatory trouble. Transparent communication with users on maintenance windows also lowers frustration and support load.

Stay inside approved channels and plan bulk jobs at off-peak to keep SharePoint running smoothly.

12. Upgrade to Modern SharePoint Experiences and Deprecate Legacy Sites

Classic SharePoint pages drag down speed and morale. Modern SharePoint, built on current frameworks, brings faster load times and mobile-ready pages.

Why Modern Matters

• Modern SPFx web parts and layouts load up to three times faster compared to classic builds.
• Migration tools flag legacy APIs and help you map features into modern equivalents for a smooth move.
• New navigation is simpler for non-IT staff to own and maintain.
• Modern layouts work even over restricted Chinese connections and devices.

We guide clients through phased migrations. Pilot groups minimize risk, and clear documentation ensures every office experiences the upgrade benefit.

13. Invest in User Education and Ongoing Performance Reviews

High-performing SharePoint needs high-performing users. Education slashes mistakes that bog down sites. Ongoing reviews ensure problems never go unnoticed.

Build a Performance Culture

• Train teams to avoid uploading huge files or building oversized lists during business peaks.
• Offer trilingual, bite-sized guides so guidance sticks everywhere you operate.
• Survey teams regularly and build “SharePoint Champion” groups for peer-to-peer support.

Our clients see steep drops in support tickets and faster adoption when everyone knows best practices. Empowered users fix small issues before they spiral.

Help users help themselves and performance will follow.

Practical Troubleshooting Checklist for SharePoint Slow Performance

Effective troubleshooting means gathering evidence before escalation. Use a consistent checklist to solve speed slowdowns fast.

What to gather:

• Error logs, browser F12 network traces, and SharePoint correlation IDs.
• Regional traceroute reports, especially to track Great Firewall or ISP delays.
• Check for known maintenance windows or recent upgrades.

Create repeatable runbooks and give your team clear reporting templates. Better prep leads to quicker Microsoft or provider support.

Frequently Asked Questions: Navigating SharePoint Performance in China

Operating in China brings unique SharePoint challenges, from cross-border throttling to ICP licensing and the Great Firewall. Modernization helps, but doesn’t solve every obstacle.

Multinational firms often ask: Can extra hardware fix everything? Not if network and app layers are choking. Data residency, regional service controls, and Microsoft 365 service limits are non-negotiable.

Rely on measurement—page load speed, error rates, user satisfaction—to assess progress after every major fix.

Conclusion

If slow SharePoint is draining your team, you’re not alone. Thankfully, these 13 steps put you back in control—speeding up collaboration and compliance in even the toughest markets.

Ready for expert help tailored to your multinational China operations? Book a consultation with Jet IT Services. We empower teams to work faster, smarter, and above all, with confidence.

About JET IT Services

JET helps businesses in China overcome IT challenges with reliable, compliant, and secure solutions. From network optimization to cybersecurity, we ensure your IT systems run smoothly so you can focus on what matters most—growing your business!