SharePoint Document Issues

How to Bulk Update Specific SharePoint Columns from Excel Using Power Automate

Elise Williams Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs a way to update only two specific SharePoint columns for thousands of items based on an Excel file, avoiding the Power Automate limitation where updating an item requires filling in all other mandatory fields.

How to Bulk Update Specific SharePoint Columns from Excel

Product: Microsoft SharePoint, Power Automate, Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Bulk updating approximately 6,000 SharePoint list items using matching data from an Excel spreadsheet.
Observed behavior: The standard 'Update item' action in Power Automate forces the user to provide values for other mandatory fields, preventing a simple partial update of just the two targeted columns.

Before you start

Ensure your Excel table is formatted as a true Table, resides in a cloud location (like OneDrive or SharePoint), and contains a unique identifier column that exactly matches a column in your SharePoint list.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a SharePoint REST API HTTP Request in Power Automate

Bypass the mandatory field requirement of the standard 'Update item' action by using an HTTP request to perform a targeted MERGE update on only the required columns.

The standard Power Automate 'Update item' action acts as a full overwrite mechanism, which is why it asks for all mandatory fields. By sending a direct HTTP request to the SharePoint REST API, you can execute a 'MERGE' operation. This updates only the specified columns and leaves all other mandatory fields intact.

Retrieve Excel Data

Add the 'List rows present in a table' action in your flow to pull the data from your Excel file containing the unique identifiers and the new column values.

Add HTTP Request Action

Inside an 'Apply to each' loop iterating through the Excel rows, add the 'Send an HTTP request to SharePoint' action.

Configure the Request Method and URI

Set the Method to 'POST'. Set the Uri to `_api/web/lists/getbytitle('YourListName')/items(ID)` (replace 'YourListName' and dynamically insert the SharePoint item ID).

Set the Headers

Add the following headers: `Accept: application/json;odata=nometadata`, `Content-Type: application/json;odata=nometadata`, `IF-MATCH: *`, and most importantly, `X-HTTP-Method: MERGE`.

Define the Body Payload

In the Body field, provide a JSON object containing only the two columns you want to update. For example: `{"Column1InternalName": "@{items('Apply_to_each')?['ExcelColumn1']}", "Column2InternalName": "@{items('Apply_to_each')?['ExcelColumn2']}"}`.

Use a SharePoint REST API HTTP Request in Power Automate

Performance Tip: For large datasets like 6,000 items, enable 'Concurrency Control' in the settings of your 'Apply to each' loop and increase the degree of parallelism to significantly speed up the flow.

Solution 2

Consult the Microsoft Power Automate Community for Graph API Scripts

For exceptionally large lists where standard loops time out, seek optimized Microsoft Graph batching approaches from community experts.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Prepare Your Excel Data Seamlessly with WPS Office

Before running complex Power Automate flows to update SharePoint, ensure your source data is perfectly formatted and cleaned. WPS Spreadsheet is a fast, lightweight alternative that fully supports Microsoft Excel files, allowing you to organize thousands of rows effortlessly.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
2. Install and Launch: Run the installer and open WPS Spreadsheet once the setup is complete.
3. Edit Your Dataset: Open your Excel (.xlsx) file, clean your two specific columns, format them as a Table, and save the file directly to your cloud drive for Power Automate access.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx, .csv) formats.Lightweight software that handles large datasets (6,000+ rows) without lagging.Free to use with a familiar, user-friendly interface.Advanced data formatting and deduplication tools to ensure accurate SharePoint mapping.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Power Automate require mandatory fields when updating an item?

The default 'Update item' connector in Power Automate is designed to perform a full overwrite of the item's metadata. Therefore, if SharePoint has marked a column as 'Required', Power Automate will enforce that rule and ask for a value, even if you only intend to change a different column.

Can I bulk update SharePoint lists directly from Excel without using Power Automate?

You can use the 'Edit in grid view' feature natively in SharePoint for manual bulk edits, where you can paste data directly from Excel. However, for automated matching and updating of thousands of rows based on specific IDs, you need a workflow tool like Power Automate, Microsoft Access, or a custom script.

Is there a limit to how many SharePoint items Power Automate can update from Excel?

While there is no strict limit on the number of items, standard Power Automate loops can be slow and may hit execution time limits (usually 30 days) or API action limits based on your licensing plan. For very large datasets, using batch HTTP requests or processing the data in smaller chunks is recommended.

Document & File Issues