SharePoint Document Issues

Automatically Move SharePoint List Items to a Folder with Power Automate

Anum Mushtaq Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to set up a workflow that automatically moves a SharePoint list item into a specific, pre-existing folder whenever a Yes/No column (such as 'Completed') is updated to 'Yes'.

Automatically Move SharePoint List Items to a Folder with Power Automate

Product: Microsoft SharePoint / Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Automating document and list management in SharePoint by relocating items to designated folders based on status updates.
Observed behavior: The list item needs to be automatically transferred to a 'Completed/Done' folder upon a column value change, requiring folder support to be enabled.

Before you start

Ensure that your SharePoint list has folder support enabled (via Advanced Settings) and that the destination folder (e.g., 'Completed') already exists within the list.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Power Automate Flow to Move Modified Items

Build a triggered flow in Power Automate that listens for list item modifications, checks the status column, and moves the item to the correct folder.

Power Automate can seamlessly connect to your SharePoint lists. By setting a trigger for when an item is modified, you can evaluate the data in the list's columns and perform actions like moving the item to a new path.

Create a new automated flow

Log into Microsoft Power Automate, navigate to 'Create', and select 'Automated cloud flow'. Give your flow a name and choose the trigger 'When an item or a file is modified' under SharePoint.

Configure the SharePoint trigger

Select your SharePoint Site Address and the specific List Name from the dropdown menus in the trigger action.

Add a condition step

Click 'New step' and choose 'Condition'. In the condition logic, select your Yes/No column (e.g., 'Completed') from the dynamic content, set the operator to 'is equal to', and type 'true' (since Yes/No columns are evaluated as booleans).

Set the move action in the 'If yes' branch

Inside the 'If yes' box, add a new action. Search for SharePoint and select the action to move the file or update the list item's folder path. Configure the destination to your 'Completed/Done' folder.

Save and test the flow

Click 'Save' at the top right. Go to your SharePoint list, modify a sample item by changing the 'Completed' column to 'Yes', and verify that the item successfully moves to the destination folder.

Create a Power Automate Flow to Move Modified Items

Boolean Values in Power Automate: When evaluating a Yes/No column from SharePoint in Power Automate, always use the boolean expression 'true' or 'false' rather than the text strings 'Yes' or 'No'.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enable folder support in a SharePoint list?

Go to your SharePoint list, click the Gear icon, and select 'List settings'. Click on 'Advanced settings', scroll down to the Folders section, and toggle 'Make New Folder command available' to 'Yes'.

Why is my Power Automate flow failing to move the list item?

This usually happens if the destination folder path is incorrect or does not exist. Double-check the exact folder name in SharePoint and ensure your flow uses the correct Site Address and List Name.

Can I move a list item to a folder that hasn't been created yet?

Yes, but you will need to add an extra action in your Power Automate flow. Before the move action, add a 'Create new folder' SharePoint action, then use its output dynamically as the destination path.

Are Yes/No columns treated as text in Power Automate?

No. Power Automate reads SharePoint Yes/No columns as boolean values. You must use 'true' (for Yes) or 'false' (for No) in your condition statements.

Document & File Issues