“Our SharePoint 2013 search stopped working… and no one knows how to fix it.”
This is not an uncommon cry for help. And it’s one we’ve been hearing more often.
While SharePoint 2013 officially reached end of life, many organizations continue to depend on it for day-to-day operations. Not by choice, but by necessity. Migration is complex. Budgets are tight. And new systems can’t be rolled out overnight.
But when core features like search stop working — or knowledge disappears into folder sprawl — productivity suffers, trust erodes, and internal communications stall.
So what do you do when migration isn’t yet realistic, but your current system is barely holding up?
Let’s look at the real cost of standing still, the reasons companies delay, and the practical steps you can take today — whether you’re keeping the system alive or preparing for a smarter future.
The Hidden Costs of Broken Legacy Systems
| Issue | Business Impact |
| Search functionality fails | Employees can’t find key documents, policies, or tasks |
| Information is scattered | Knowledge is siloed or buried in nested folders |
| In-house expertise is gone | No one remembers how workflows were built or maintained |
| Migration is postponed | Teams are left in limbo, stuck with limited functionality |
| Productivity slows | Time is lost navigating the system instead of getting work done |
Even when SharePoint still “runs,” these issues quietly drain resources and frustrate teams. And worse — when search doesn’t work, neither does knowledge management.
Why Many Teams Haven’t Migrated Yet
Despite known issues, migration often remains on hold. Here’s why:
- Limited IT resources: Internal teams are stretched thin or lack SharePoint expertise.
- Complex dependencies: SharePoint is integrated with legacy workflows, databases, or custom solutions.
- Fear of disruption: Migration feels risky — what if something breaks?
- Budget constraints: A full transition to M365 or a modern DMS is not financially feasible this year.
- Other priorities: Business continuity takes precedence over infrastructure projects.
These are valid concerns. But they don’t have to mean standing still.
You Don’t Have to Choose Between “Broken” and “Rebuilt”
There are two strategic paths forward — both of which Rocketta supports:
If You’re Keeping SharePoint 2013 Running Through 2025: Steps to follow
Step 1: Stabilize Your Existing Environment
Address critical issues such as broken search, dead links, and content access problems. Keeping your platform operational and secure is essential for minimizing disruptions to daily workflows.
Step 2: Acknowledge the Risks of Legacy Systems
SharePoint 2013 is no longer supported by Microsoft, exposing your environment to potential security vulnerabilities and integration gaps. Most modern tools — including Rocketta Easy Wiki — are not compatible with this version, limiting your ability to improve user experience.
Step 3: Prepare for Migration Proactively
Even if you’re not ready to migrate immediately, now is the time to start planning. Rocketta supports early-stage assessment and roadmap development so you can transition on your terms — with no surprises, no lost data, and a structure ready for the future.
If You’re Planning to Migrate: Steps to follow
Step 1: Audit and Map Your Content
Conduct a detailed content audit to identify what should be migrated, archived, or restructured. This ensures only valuable, current information is moved — reducing clutter and improving usability.
Step 2: Choose the Right Platform and Partner
Move to SharePoint Online for its flexibility, scalability, and native Microsoft 365 integration. Whether migrating from Confluence, legacy wikis, or file servers, Rocketta delivers full-service support — from taxonomy design to metadata tagging and structure cleanup.
Step 3: Implement a Sustainable Information Architecture
Build a future-proof structure in SharePoint or Microsoft Teams with clear governance rules and intuitive tools like Rocketta Easy Wiki. We ensure your new knowledge base is not only functional, but scalable and easy to manage long term.
Step 4: Train and Empower Your Team
Equip administrators, content owners, and stakeholders with the skills they need to succeed. RockAcademy offers tailored training to boost adoption and ensure effective platform usage — even in hybrid or legacy environments.
5 Use Cases We’ve Solved for Clients Like You
| Use Case | Problem | Outcome |
| Legacy Search Failure | Search stopped working on SP2013; content was unfindable | Re-enabled indexed search, introduced Easy Wiki for better structure and usability |
| Knowledge Drain | IT team that built SharePoint left; no internal expertise remained | Stabilized system, trained content owners via RockAcademy |
| Migration from Confluence | Teams wanted to move from Confluence to SharePoint but feared data loss | Migrated spaces, preserved structure, added tags + Easy Wiki layer |
| Policy Chaos | HR policies spread across folders, hard to maintain or track versions | Centralized policies in Wiki with approval workflow and version history |
| No Navigation Clarity | Employees couldn’t navigate legacy intranet | Built a clean tree-based structure, tagged content for better discovery |
Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just About Technology, It’s About Control
Whether you’re in “keep-it-alive” mode or finally preparing to move on, you don’t have to manage this alone.
You can:
- Plan your migration on your timeline with expert support, structure planning, and full transition guidance.
- Help your teams regain control over their knowledge, reduce search time, and rebuild confidence in your digital workplace.
If your SharePoint search is broken and no one in-house remembers how to fix it, you’re not alone. There are paths forward and we’re here to support them.
Want to explore your options? Let’s talk.
