SharePoint Document Issues

Fix SharePoint Lookup Column 404 Not Found Error

Steve K Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user experiences a 404 Not Found error when clicking hyperlinks in a SharePoint document library lookup column.

How to Fix SharePoint Lookup Column 404 Not Found Errors

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Navigating document libraries using lookup columns that display document titles.
Observed behavior: Clicking the hyperlink on the document title in the lookup column leads to a 404 Not Found page instead of opening the requested file.

Before you start

Verify that you have Edit or Design permissions for both the source and destination document libraries in SharePoint before attempting to modify column properties.

Solution 1Recommended

Match Title and Name Column Wording

Synchronizing the exact wording between the Title and Name columns in both the source and destination libraries resolves the broken lookup hyperlink.

SharePoint lookup columns rely on precise metadata mapping to generate valid URLs. When the 'Title' and 'Name' properties differ between the connected lists or libraries, SharePoint may generate a malformed link, resulting in a 404 Not Found error.

Open source library settings

Navigate to the source SharePoint document library, click the Settings (gear) icon in the top right corner, and select Library settings.

Review column names

Scroll down to the Columns section and note the exact spelling and wording used for the 'Title' and 'Name' columns.

Update destination library

Go to the destination document library, open its Library settings, and modify the 'Title' and 'Name' columns to match the source library exactly.

Test the lookup link

Return to the destination document library view, refresh the page, and click the lookup hyperlink again to confirm the document opens without a 404 error.

Configuration Complete: Matching these fields ensures SharePoint correctly resolves the internal URL paths, instantly fixing the broken hyperlinks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a SharePoint lookup column show a 404 error?

A 404 error in a lookup column typically occurs when the URL path generated by the hyperlink is broken. This is most frequently caused by mismatched or modified 'Title' and 'Name' column values between the source and destination document libraries.

Can I use Power Automate to fix lookup column 404 errors?

While Power Automate can update document metadata or trigger notifications in bulk, the fundamental fix for a 404 lookup link requires ensuring the source and destination SharePoint libraries have identically named Title and Name column structures.

Do I need admin rights to change column names in SharePoint?

Yes, you typically need Design or Full Control permissions on the specific SharePoint document library to access the Library Settings menu and modify column configurations.

Document & File Issues