SharePoint Document Issues

Fix SharePoint Gallery View Not Displaying Multiline Rich Text Correctly

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to fix an issue where multiline list fields with rich-text formatting fail to render properly within a SharePoint Gallery view or a custom Gallery formatter.

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Displaying list items containing rich text data using the Gallery view layout or applying a custom formatter.
Observed behavior: The multiline rich-text data does not display correctly in the Gallery view, often appearing broken or unsupported.

Before you start

Ensure you have 'Edit' or 'Full Control' permissions for the SharePoint list to modify column settings and adjust the Gallery view layout.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Rich-Text Formatting for the Multiline Column

Since rich-text multiline fields are unsupported in Gallery custom formatters, converting the column to plain text will resolve the display issue.

SharePoint's Gallery view custom formatters currently do not support parsing rich HTML tags. Switching the field to plain text ensures the content renders properly.

Warning: Converting a column from rich text to plain text will permanently strip existing text formatting (like bolding, colors, and italics) from all current list items.

Access List Settings

Open your SharePoint list, click the Gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner, and select 'List settings'.

Edit the Multiline Column

Scroll down to the 'Columns' section and click on the name of the problematic multiline column.

Switch to Plain Text

Under 'Additional Column Settings', locate the 'Specify the type of text to allow' option and select 'Plain text'.

Save Changes

Click 'OK' at the bottom of the page to save your settings. Return to your Gallery view to verify the text now displays correctly.

Data Warning: If retaining existing text formatting is strictly required for other views, do not use this method. Instead, hide the field from the Gallery view.

Solution 2

Remove the Multiline Field from the Gallery View

If you must keep rich-text formatting for other standard views, you can simply hide the unsupported field from the Gallery card layout.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does rich text look broken in my SharePoint Gallery view?

SharePoint currently does not support rendering rich-text multiline fields inside Gallery custom formatters. The system cannot properly parse the underlying HTML tags used for formatting, causing the display to appear broken or display raw HTML.

Can I keep rich text formatting in standard list views while using a Gallery view?

Yes. You can leave the column configured as rich text in the list settings, but simply remove or uncheck that specific column from the Gallery view's 'Edit card' designer. Other list views will continue to display the rich text.

Will I lose data if I change my SharePoint column from rich text to plain text?

You won't lose the actual text content, but you will permanently lose all applied formatting (such as bolding, text colors, bullet points, and hyperlinks) for all existing items in that column.

Document & File Issues