SharePoint Document Issues

Can SharePoint List Column Headers Be Bold?

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if it is possible to change the font weight of a SharePoint list column header to bold using column-formatting JSON.

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing the visual appearance of a SharePoint list header.
Observed behavior: SharePoint column-formatting JSON only formats list values and cannot change the font weight of the list column header.

Before you start

Verify that you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions in your SharePoint environment to customize list forms or use Power Apps.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Power Apps to Customize the List Layout

Since JSON formatting cannot alter the default header, customizing the list form via Power Apps allows you to set bold headers and create a tailored gallery layout.

SharePoint's native column-formatting JSON is specifically designed to target the data values inside the list columns. It does not provide styling hooks for the header elements.

To achieve a bold header or a completely custom view, you need to bypass the default view and use Power Apps to build a customized gallery layout.

Open SharePoint List

Navigate to the SharePoint list where you want to customize the headers.

Access Power Apps

Click on 'Integrate' in the top command bar, select 'Power Apps', and then choose 'Customize forms'.

Edit Header Style

In the Power Apps Studio, select the label component acting as your header and change its 'Font weight' property to 'Bold'.

Save and Publish

Save your changes in Power Apps and publish the form back to your SharePoint environment.

Alternative Method: If you do not want to use Power Apps, consider using SPFx (SharePoint Framework) to build a custom Field Customizer, though this requires advanced developer knowledge.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use JSON to change the background color of a SharePoint column?

Yes, column-formatting JSON can be used to alter the background color, font color, and icons of the data cells within a column, even though it cannot modify the column header.

Is Power Apps free to use with SharePoint?

Power Apps is generally included with most standard Microsoft 365 Enterprise, Business, and Education licenses, allowing you to customize standard SharePoint list forms at no additional cost.

Will formatting a column with JSON affect the underlying data?

No, JSON column formatting only changes how the data is visually presented to the user. The underlying list data remains unchanged.

Document & File Issues