SharePoint Document Issues

How to Display Microsoft Lists Attachments as File Name Hyperlinks

Natalie Taylor Oct 15, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to display the actual file name as a clickable hyperlink in the Microsoft Lists Attachment column, rather than just the default paperclip icon.

How to Display Microsoft Lists Attachments as File Name Hyperlinks

Product: Microsoft Lists
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing and accessing attached files directly from items within a Microsoft List.
Observed behavior: The Microsoft Lists Attachment column only shows a standard paperclip icon instead of the attached file's actual name and a direct clickable hyperlink.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary edit permissions for the Microsoft List and the ability to create Document Libraries within your associated SharePoint site.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a SharePoint Document Library and Hyperlink Column

Since Microsoft Lists does not natively support displaying attachment file names, you can store files in a Document Library and link them directly within your list.

The attachment column in Microsoft Lists is currently designed as a simple boolean indicator (showing a paperclip if files exist) to save space. To bypass this limitation, you can utilize a SharePoint Document Library alongside a Hyperlink column.

Create a Document Library

Navigate to your SharePoint site contents and create a new Document Library to store your list attachments.

Upload Files

Upload the necessary documents and files directly into this new SharePoint Document Library.

Copy File Links

Select the uploaded file in the Document Library, click the 'Share' or 'Copy link' button, and copy the direct link.

Add a Hyperlink Column

Go back to your Microsoft List, click 'Add column', and choose the 'Hyperlink or Picture' column type.

Paste the Links

Edit your list items and paste the copied file links into your newly created Hyperlink column to display clickable URLs.

Use a SharePoint Document Library and Hyperlink Column

Submit Feature Feedback: Because displaying file names is a highly requested feature, consider submitting or voting for this request in the official SharePoint Feedback Portal.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Lists only show a paperclip for attachments?

By default, the Attachment column in Microsoft Lists is designed as a simple visual indicator to show whether an item has attachments. It natively lacks the setting to display exact file names as clickable links.

Can I use JSON formatting to show attachment names in Microsoft Lists?

Unfortunately, column formatting using JSON cannot retrieve or display attachment file names or URLs directly in the list view, because attachment details are stored in a separate backend table.

Is there an automated way to generate these file name links?

Yes, you can create a Power Automate flow that triggers when an item is created or modified. The flow can extract the attachment's URL and automatically populate a separate Hyperlink column in your list.

Document & File Issues