SharePoint Document Issues

Fix SharePoint Online Document Library Not Showing All Videos When Filtering

Huda Qurayshi Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to filter videos across a SharePoint Online document library, but applying filters at the library root fails to return video files stored within subfolders.

Fix SharePoint Online Document Library Filtering Not Showing All Videos

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Filtering a document library to locate specific video files distributed across multiple nested folders.
Observed behavior: Applying a metadata filter at the root of the document library only filters items at the top level and does not display matching video files located inside nested subfolders.

Before you start

Ensure you have Edit permissions on your SharePoint site so you can create new lists, add custom columns to the document library, and edit modern site pages.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Connected Choice List with Dynamic Filtering

Set up a separate list for choices and use dynamic filtering on a modern SharePoint page to filter the video library across all folders effectively.

By default, SharePoint library filters only apply to the current folder view. Connecting a choice list to your library using dynamic page filtering bypasses this limitation, offering a user-friendly way to display specific videos regardless of their folder location.

Create a Custom Choice List

Navigate to Site Contents and create a new custom list. Add your filtering categories (e.g., Video Topics) as individual list items in the Title column.

Add a Matching Column to the Video Library

Go to your Video Document Library, click 'Add column', and choose Text or Choice. Ensure this column is populated with data that matches the categories in your newly created choice list.

Add Web Parts to a Site Page

Edit a modern SharePoint site page. Click the '+' icon to add two web parts: the Choice List you just created and your Video Document Library.

Enable Dynamic Filtering

Select the Video Document Library web part and click the pencil icon to edit its properties. Turn on 'Dynamic filtering', select the Choice column to filter by, and connect it to the Choice List web part.

Create a Connected Choice List with Dynamic Filtering

Filtering Enabled: When users select an item in the Choice List web part, the document library will automatically filter to show matching videos, including those nested inside folders.

Solution 2

Use Third-Party Modern Search Web Parts

Implement modern search web parts like PnP Search for advanced, deep-folder filtering and custom query capabilities.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Discover WPS Office for Seamless Document Management

While SharePoint handles complex web library management, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for creating, editing, and managing your everyday Office documents. Simplify your workflow with an intuitive, all-in-one suite.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats.Lightweight application that opens files quickly without system lag.Built-in cloud syncing makes it easy to organize documents without navigating complex folder structures.Familiar user interface ensures a seamless migration from Microsoft Office.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't the default SharePoint filter search inside folders?

By default, column filtering in a SharePoint document library view only applies to the current folder level. It does not recursively filter items nested inside subfolders unless the library view is specifically modified to ignore folder structures.

How do I flatten my document library view to see all videos at once?

You can modify your view by clicking 'All Documents' (or your current view name) in the top right, selecting 'Edit current view', scrolling down to the 'Folders' section, and selecting 'Show all items without folders'. This forces all files into a flat list, allowing root-level filtering to apply to everything.

Can I filter SharePoint videos by duration or custom metadata?

Yes, but you must first add custom columns to your library to track specific metadata, such as a 'Duration' or 'Video Category' choice column. Once populated, you can use dynamic filtering or search web parts to filter based on these custom attributes.

Do I need admin rights to set up dynamic filtering?

You do not need full tenant administrator rights, but you do need at least Site Member or Site Owner permissions. This grants you the ability to edit site pages, create new lists, and modify library settings.

Document & File Issues