What is List View Threshold
The List View Threshold states that you cannot have more than 5,000 items (by default) returned in your list view. This does not mean you can only have 5,000 items in a list. It means that when a user clicks into a list view, the number of items returned to the user should not exceed 5,000. One of the major reasons that this List View Threshold (LVT) feature was created is to protect the server from unintentional load that may either bring it down, or at least cause other users higher latency or failures. Changing this limit (default 5000) is quite simple in SharePoint 2013/2016, but it is not recommended unless you are 100% sure that it will not negatively affect your system.
Note: For SharePoint Online, the list view threshold is 5,000 which cannot be modified.
What will happen when the list view threshold limit is reached
When the list view threshold is reached in a particular list or library, users will see the error message “The number of items in this list exceeds the list view threshold” instead of seeing the content they requested.
In SharePoint 2013/2016 server, you will see the below error message:
This view cannot be displayed because it exceeds the list view threshold (5000 items) enforced by the administrator.
In SharePoint Online, you will see the below error message:
The number of items in this list exceeds the list view threshold, which is 5000 items. Tasks that cause excessive server load (such as those involving all list items) are currently prohibited.
How to change the list view threshold limit
For on-premise SharePoint, we can easily change this limit through Central Administration but it is not recommended unless you have specific need.
Follow the below steps to set the list view threshold limit in SharePoint on-premise:
- Login into Central Administration
- Go to Application Management -> Manage Web Applications
- Select the Web application for which you want to change the LVT.
- In the ribbon above, click General Settings. That will bring down a menu, from which you select Resource Throttling
- Change the List View Threshold to another value and click OK
For SharePoint Online, the list view threshold is 5,000 which cannot be modified.
To work around this issue, review the recommendations, techniques, and tips outlined in the “Ways to manage lists and libraries with many items” section of the “Manage lists and libraries with many items” guidance located at the following Microsoft website: Manage lists and libraries with many items
You can also checkout this thread: https://community.office365.com/en-us/f/148/t/79787