Fix Hidden or Faded Text in SharePoint Online List Columns
Question details
The user needs long text to remain readable across SharePoint Online list columns instead of fading or disappearing at the bottom of one column.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Comparing long-text content in two columns within a SharePoint Online list view.
- Observed behavior
- One rich-text column fades or hides content at the bottom, while another column displays the full text.
Open the affected list and check the column's text type under Settings > List settings > Columns. Confirm that you have permission to edit column settings or formatting; enhanced rich text requires different handling from plain text.
Apply JSON wrapping to a plain-text list column
Use this approach when the column contains plain text and long content needs to wrap within the list view.
Column JSON formatting changes how a value is displayed, not the stored value. Normal white space and word wrapping can make long text more readable, but they do not guarantee that every list layout will display unlimited text.
Enhanced rich-text values contain HTML. Displaying those values with @currentField can expose HTML tags as literal text rather than render the formatted content.
In the SharePoint list, select the affected column header, then choose Column settings > Format this column.
Select Advanced mode and enter this JSON: {"$schema":"https://developer.microsoft.com/json-schemas/sp/v2/column-formatting.schema.json","elmType":"div","txtContent":"@currentField","style":{"display":"block","white-space":"normal","word-wrap":"break-word"}}
Select Preview and inspect a row with long text, then select Save. If HTML tags appear instead of readable text, use a plain multiple-lines-of-text column as described in the next solution.
Return to the list and inspect the longest entries. If content is still clipped by the view layout, open the item's details to read the full value; column wrapping alone may not remove every display limit.
Use plain multiple-lines-of-text storage for reliable JSON formatting
Use this approach when enhanced rich text produces HTML tags or inconsistent display, and preserving rich-text styling is not required.
Review Exported SharePoint List Text in WPS Spreadsheet
WPS Office does not fix SharePoint column rendering. As a free, lightweight Office alternative, WPS Spreadsheet offers a familiar interface for reviewing exported list data, wrapping cell text, and moving between compatible spreadsheet files with minimal workflow changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does one SharePoint column show all the text while another fades at the bottom?
The columns may use different text types, formatting, or display behavior in the list view. Check Settings > List settings > Columns for each column, then inspect Column settings > Format this column to compare any applied formatting.
Why do HTML tags appear after I apply column JSON formatting?
Enhanced rich-text fields store HTML. When JSON uses txtContent with @currentField, that HTML can appear as literal text instead of formatted content. Use a plain multiple-lines-of-text column for this wrapping approach.
Where do I paste the JSON for a SharePoint list column?
Open the list, select the column header, and choose Column settings > Format this column > Advanced mode. Paste the JSON, select Preview to inspect the result, and then select Save.
Can I keep enhanced rich text and still use this wrapping JSON?
This example is intended for plain text and does not render enhanced rich-text HTML. If you need to preserve rich formatting, keep the original column and read its content in the item's details, or create a separate plain-text column for the list view.
Will wrapping JSON always show the entire value in the list?
No. Wrapping improves text flow, but the list layout can still limit the visible content. After saving the format, test a long entry and open the item's details if the view still clips it.
