Fix SharePoint Rich Text Truncated in Multiple Lines of Text Columns
Question details
Users experience text cut-offs when viewing rich text stored in a SharePoint multiple-lines-of-text column that contains several visible rows.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Viewing list items containing lengthy rich text content directly from a standard SharePoint modern list view.
- Observed behavior
- The displayed rich text is truncated after a few visible rows due to an inherent display limitation in SharePoint, rather than a JSON formatting error.
Verify that your text is simply hidden and not deleted by opening the individual list item to ensure the full content is still intact within the database.
View the Complete Item or Switch to Plain Text
The simplest approach to bypass the SharePoint list view limitation without relying on custom code or external form builders.
Since there is no standard SharePoint setting to increase the displayed row limit for rich-text controls in list views, adjusting your viewing habits or column types is the most immediate workaround.
Select the specific SharePoint list item and click 'Open' or double-click the item. The complete rich text content will render fully in the details pane.
If formatting such as bolding, colors, or tables is unnecessary, navigate to 'List Settings', select your column, and change the text type from 'Rich text' to 'Plain text'. This reduces rendering overhead and often improves viewability.
Create a Customized Power Apps Form
Replaces the default SharePoint form with a custom Power Apps interface capable of displaying larger rich text areas seamlessly.
Try WPS Office for Unrestricted Document Editing
If SharePoint's display limitations are affecting your team's ability to read and manage long-form content, consider drafting and storing your comprehensive documents in WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and restriction-free alternative to Microsoft Office.
- 1. Download the software: Get the free WPS Office installer from the official website and install it on your device.
- 2. Import your documents: Open your .docx or text files directly, including content exported from SharePoint.
- 3. Edit without constraints: Enjoy full visibility of your rich text content without arbitrary row limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fix the rich text truncation using JSON column formatting?
No, the truncation of rich text in multiple-lines-of-text columns is a fundamental display limitation of the modern SharePoint UI. It cannot be bypassed using standard JSON column formatting.
Is my data lost when the text gets truncated in the list view?
No, your data is entirely safe. The truncation only affects how the text is rendered in the list view. You can always view the complete text by opening the list item's detail pane.
Are there any out-of-the-box settings to increase the row limit in SharePoint?
Currently, there are no standard SharePoint list settings or administrative toggles available to natively increase the row limit for rich-text column displays in modern views.
Does switching the column to plain text resolve the issue?
Switching to plain text removes HTML formatting overhead, which can sometimes allow more text to be displayed or managed more easily in standard views. However, very long text strings may still require you to open the item to read them in their entirety.
