SharePoint Document Issues

How to Automatically Create Files When a SharePoint Folder is Created

Nimra Malik Sep 27, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users need to automatically populate new folders in a SharePoint document library with a predefined set of default files.

How to Automatically Create Files When a SharePoint Folder is Created

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting up a structured document library where every new folder requires the exact same template files for standardized workflows.
Observed behavior: When a new folder is generated in the document library, the system automatically populates it with a predefined set of template files without manual copying.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions in your SharePoint site to enable site collection features and configure custom content types.

Solution 1Recommended

Use SharePoint Document Sets Content Type

The built-in Document Set feature is the most reliable way to automatically provision predefined files inside a new folder structure.

Document Sets act like specialized folders that can share metadata and automatically contain a specific set of default documents upon creation. This avoids the complexity of building external automation flows.

Enable Document Sets

Navigate to 'Site Settings' > 'Site collection features', locate 'Document Sets', and click 'Activate'.

Allow Content Types in the Library

Go to your document library, click the gear icon to open 'Library Settings' > 'More library settings' > 'Advanced settings'. Set 'Allow management of content types' to 'Yes' and click OK.

Add Document Set to Library

In the Library Settings page, under Content Types, click 'Add from existing site content types'. Select 'Document Set', add it to the library, and confirm.

Configure Default Content

Click on the 'Document Set' content type link in Library Settings, then select 'Document Set settings'. Under the 'Default Content' section, upload the predefined files you want automatically created.

Create the New Folder

Return to your document library. Click the 'New' dropdown menu and select 'Document Set'. Give it a name, and SharePoint will automatically generate the folder populated with your uploaded files.

Use SharePoint Document Sets Content Type

Best Practice: Using Document Sets is natively supported by SharePoint and is generally much simpler and more stable than building custom Power Automate flows for this specific requirement.

Solution 2

Create a Custom Power Automate Flow

For highly customized workflows or complex conditions beyond standard Document Sets, you can build a Power Automate flow.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Create Your SharePoint Templates with WPS Office

While SharePoint manages your document libraries, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office for designing the actual template files.

1. Download WPS Office: Get the free suite from the official WPS website and install it on your device.
2. Design Your Templates: Draft your standardized .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files using the familiar WPS interface.
3. Upload to SharePoint: Save your files and upload them to the 'Default Content' section of your SharePoint Document Set settings.

100% compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats.Lightweight software that loads quickly on Windows, Mac, and mobile devices.Familiar tabbed interface makes switching seamless and hassle-free.Easily save and upload perfectly formatted templates directly to SharePoint Document Sets.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What file types can be added as default content in a Document Set?

You can add most standard document types as default content in a Document Set, including Microsoft Word documents (.docx), Excel spreadsheets (.xlsx), PowerPoint presentations (.pptx), PDFs, and text files.

Do Document Sets work in the modern SharePoint Online experience?

Yes, Document Sets are fully supported in the modern experience. However, you must first enable the feature at the site collection level via classic settings before it becomes available to add to your modern libraries.

Can I trigger a Power Automate flow only for specific folder names?

Yes, you can add a trigger condition in your Power Automate flow settings to only run when the folder name matches specific text, prefixes, or patterns, preventing it from running on every single folder created.

Why is the Document Set option missing from my library's New menu?

If the option is missing, ensure that you have allowed the management of content types in the library's advanced settings, added the Document Set content type to the library, and verified that it is marked as visible on the 'New' button order settings.

Document & File Issues