How to Deploy an SPFx Web Part to the App Catalog
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Every SharePoint Framework (SPFx) web part, including the free SharePoint Smart Solutions web parts, is installed the same way: an admin uploads its .sppkg package to an app catalog, and then the web part shows up in the page toolbox. Here is the whole process.
What is the SharePoint app catalog?
The app catalog is a special SharePoint site where admins store and approve custom apps and SPFx solutions for the tenant. Most tenants use one tenant app catalog. You can also add a site collection app catalog when a package should only be available on one site.
Step 1: Open the tenant app catalog
- Open the SharePoint admin center.
- Go to More features, then Apps, and select Open.
- If your tenant has no app catalog yet, SharePoint guides you through creating one there.
Step 2: Upload the .sppkg package
Download the latest .sppkg from the product's GitHub release, then upload it in the app catalog. When SharePoint asks, tick Make this solution available to all sites in the organization if every site should be able to use it, and select Deploy.
Step 3: Approve API access
Some web parts read data through Microsoft Graph, for example a directory-based org chart. Their permission requests wait in the SharePoint admin center under Advanced, then API access. Review each request and approve it, or the web part cannot load that data.
Step 4: Add the web part to a page
Edit a modern SharePoint page, select the + sign, search for the web part by name, add it, and publish the page.
Optional: a site collection app catalog
To test a package on one site before rolling it out, a SharePoint admin can add a catalog to that site:
Connect-SPOService -Url https://contoso-admin.sharepoint.com Add-SPOSiteCollectionAppCatalog -Site https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/pilot
The site then gets its own Apps for SharePoint library, and packages uploaded there only work on that site.
Install guides for each web part
- Install Smart Permissions
- Install Smart Gantt Chart
- Install Smart Org Chart
- Install Smart Forms
- Install Smart Storage Analyzer
- Install Smart Charts
- Install Smart Path Length
Want it done for you? Our team offers a Quick Start setup that installs and configures the web parts in your tenant. Tell us what you need.
Frequently asked questions
Who can upload to the SharePoint app catalog?
Uploading to the tenant app catalog needs a SharePoint Administrator (or Global Administrator), or someone given rights on the app catalog site. Site collection app catalogs can be managed by that site's owners once an admin has created the catalog.
How do I update a web part that is already deployed?
Upload the newer .sppkg to the same app catalog and replace the existing file. Pages that already use the web part pick up the new version; you do not need to re-add it.
Do I need the app catalog for Smart Copy?
No. Smart Copy is a Windows desktop app. The app catalog is only for the SPFx web parts, such as Smart Permissions, Smart Gantt Chart, Smart Org Chart and Smart Storage Analyzer.
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Want a second set of eyes?
Get a SharePoint permissions audit from our team
We review who can see what across your sites, flag oversharing before you roll out Copilot, and help you put a cleanup plan and governance in place.
About the author
Sean Regan
SharePoint & Microsoft 365 consultant with 20+ years of hands-on experience building SPFx web parts, migration tooling and tenant-grade automation. Maintainer of the open-source SharePoint Smart Solutions suite.