SharePoint Document Issues

Fix Power Automate Flow Failing to Send Microsoft Forms Responses to SharePoint Lookup Column

Maira Mehtab Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

User needs to successfully pass response data from Microsoft Forms into a SharePoint list's lookup column using Power Automate without triggering flow failures.

Fix Power Automate Flow Failing to Send Microsoft Forms Responses to SharePoint Lookup Column

Product: Power Automate and SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Automating data entry from Microsoft Forms into a SharePoint list that contains a lookup column, such as a supervisor identifier.
Observed behavior: The Power Automate flow fails at the Create item step because the target SharePoint lookup field expects a valid related-list ID, while the Forms response only provides standard text.

Before you start

Ensure you have edit permissions for the Power Automate flow and verify that you know the exact name of the source list that the SharePoint lookup column references.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure the Create Item Action with a Valid Lookup ID

Ensure the "Create item" action receives the exact integer ID expected by the SharePoint lookup column rather than plain text.

SharePoint lookup columns do not accept standard text strings. To update them successfully via Power Automate, you must provide the unique ID of the target item from the source list that the lookup column is tied to.

Open your flow editor

Navigate to Power Automate, locate your flow that connects Microsoft Forms to SharePoint, and click 'Edit'.

Locate the Create item action

Scroll down to the 'Create item' (or 'Update item') SharePoint action where the flow is currently failing.

Enter the valid ID

In the field for your lookup column, ensure you are passing a numeric ID instead of the text response from Microsoft Forms. If you are typing a custom value, select 'Enter custom value' from the dropdown and input the ID.

Verify source list records

Check your SharePoint source list to confirm that the referenced value (e.g., the specific supervisor's ID) actually exists. The flow will fail if the ID provided does not match any existing record in the lookup's source list.

Configure the Create Item Action with a Valid Lookup ID

Lookup Value Format Requirement: Lookup columns require the primary key (usually the ID integer) from the source list. Passing a string like 'John Doe' will result in a Bad Request error.

Solution 2

Use 'Get items' to Retrieve the Correct Lookup ID Automatically

If your Microsoft Form only provides text, use an intermediate flow step to automatically find the corresponding SharePoint ID before creating the item.

Solution 3

Consult the Power Automate Community for Complex Lookups

If the lookup column remains unavailable or requires multi-value updates, specialized OData formatting may be required.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Power Automate throw a 'bad request' error on a SharePoint lookup column?

This typically occurs when you attempt to map a plain text string into a lookup column. SharePoint lookup columns strictly require the unique integer ID of the item from the source list, not the text value displayed on the screen.

Can I map a text response from Microsoft Forms directly to a SharePoint lookup column?

No, not directly. You must first use a 'Get items' action in Power Automate to search the source list using the form's text value, retrieve its unique ID, and then map that dynamic ID into the 'Create item' lookup field.

How do I input a custom ID value for a lookup column in Power Automate?

Click on the dropdown field for your lookup column in the 'Create item' or 'Update item' action, scroll to the bottom of the list, and select 'Enter custom value'. You can then insert dynamic content or manually type the integer ID.

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