How to switch the default experience for MS 365 Lists?

In Microsoft 365 Lists/SharePoint, the inability to change the data type of the default Title column is by design and is not controlled by the classic vs. modern list experience. The Title column type cannot be switched; instead, create a new column with the data type needed and use that as the primary field in views and forms.

Switching the list experience (modern/classic) is only for how the list is displayed and does not unlock additional data types for the Title column.

To change the list experience for a specific list or library:

1. Open the list in the browser (modern experience).
2. Select Settings (gear icon).
3. For a list, select List settings → Advanced settings. For a library, select Library settings → More library settings → Advanced settings.
4. Scroll to List experience and choose one of:
   • New experience (modern)
   • Classic experience
   • Default experience set by my administrator
5. Select OK to save.

If the site is forcing classic or modern globally, a site owner can control that at the site collection level using the SharePoint Lists and Libraries experience feature, but this still does not change the behavior of the Title column.

To customize columns and views instead of changing Title:

1. Open the list.
2. Use + Add column to create a new column with the desired data type.
3. Use View options → choose a view → Column settings → Show/hide columns to show/hide and reorder columns.
4. Save the view so the new column appears as the main field.

References:

• Switch the default experience for lists and libraries between new or classic
• Change the default list and library experience
• Move to the modern list and library experience
• Edit a list column
• Differences between modern and classic experiences for lists and libraries
• SharePoint classic and modern experiences