Failed to Create Term Set: A Default Managed Metadata Service Connection Hasn’t Been Specified

In this article you will see how to resolve the error "Failed to create term set: A default managed metadata service connection hasn't been specified" when trying to create a term set in SharePoint 2013.

Problem

In SharePoint 2013 I wanted to create managed terms (go to "Site Settings" => "Look and Feel"  => "Navigation") for the site, so when I click on "Create Term Set" I was getting the following error:



Figure 1: Create term set

Cause

This is because none of the Managed Metadata Service applications are selected as the default storage location for local term sets.

Resolution

The resolution is:

1. Open Central Administration.
2. Click on Manage service applications that is available in the Service Applications section.
   
   
   
   Figure 2: Manage Service Application in Central Administration
    
3. Select the Managed Metadata Service Connection and then click on Properties that is available in the ribbon interface as shown in Figure 3.
   
   
   
   Figure 3: Managed Metadata Service connection properties
    
4. Select "This service application is the default storage location for column specific term sets" and then click on "Ok".
   
   
   
   Figure 4: Managed Metadata Service connection properties
    
5. Now you will be able to create a term set.
    

Summary

Thus in this article you have seen how to resolve the error "Failed to create term set: A default managed metadata service connection hasn't been specified" when trying to create a term set in SharePoint 2013.