SharePoint Document Issues

How to Auto-Update TODAY Date Statuses in SharePoint Lists

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to automatically update date-based statuses in a SharePoint List using the current date, but finds that formulas using the TODAY function do not continuously refresh.

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Tracking and categorizing list items with date-based statuses such as Previous, Today, or Forthcoming.
Observed behavior: SharePoint calculated columns containing the TODAY() function only recalculate when an item is created or manually modified, causing older items to display stale statuses even when the list is refreshed.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary permissions to create and run Power Automate flows for your SharePoint List, and that your list contains a standard text or choice column for the status rather than a calculated column.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Power Automate to Update SharePoint List Statuses Daily

Since SharePoint calculated columns cannot automatically refresh the TODAY function, setting up a scheduled Power Automate flow is the recommended method to update item statuses dynamically.

SharePoint calculates formulas containing TODAY() only when an item record is explicitly edited and saved. To keep your statuses accurate without requiring users to manually edit every item daily, you must use an external automation tool.

By configuring a scheduled Power Automate flow, you can command the system to evaluate the dates of all list items once a day and update a custom status column accordingly.

Create a Scheduled Cloud Flow

Open Power Automate, navigate to 'Create' in the left menu, and select 'Scheduled cloud flow'. Set the flow to run daily at a specific time (e.g., 1:00 AM).

Retrieve SharePoint List Items

Add a new action and search for 'Get items' (SharePoint). Select your Site Address and List Name to pull in the records that need evaluating.

Set Up a Condition Loop

Add an 'Apply to each' control to loop through the items. Inside the loop, add a 'Condition' to check if the item's target date is equal to, less than, or greater than the current date.

Update the Item Status

In the respective 'If yes' or 'If no' branches of your condition, add the 'Update item' SharePoint action. Map the required fields and set your custom status column to 'Previous', 'Today', or 'Forthcoming' based on the date logic.

Avoid Calculated Columns for Live Dates: Do not use a Calculated Column with TODAY() as the trigger or primary status display, because older items will remain marked as 'Today' until they are manually edited and saved.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't the TODAY() function update automatically in SharePoint?

SharePoint only executes calculated column formulas when an item is created or modified. It does not run background calculations continuously for performance reasons, which is why dates get stale.

Will refreshing the browser update my calculated TODAY() column?

No, simply refreshing the list view or the web page does not trigger a recalculation. The individual item record must be edited and saved for the formula to run again.

Can I use JSON column formatting instead of Power Automate?

Yes, you can use JSON view formatting with the @now token to dynamically change text or colors based on the current date. However, this only alters the visual display; it does not change the underlying data value used for sorting, filtering, or reporting.

Document & File Issues