SharePoint Document Issues

How to Edit SharePoint Properties Menu Drop-Down Values

Amos Gikunda Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to add new options to a drop-down menu located in the document library Properties pane.

How to Edit SharePoint Properties Menu Drop-Down Values

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A new section was added to the site navigation menu, but this update did not automatically reflect in the document library properties drop-down menu.
Observed behavior: The newly added navigation section is missing from the specific drop-down menu (such as 'Campus') when viewing or editing document properties.

Before you start

Ensure you have 'Design' or 'Full Control' permissions for the SharePoint document library, as these rights are necessary to modify library settings, column metadata, and views.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Choice Column Settings in the Document Library

Use this method if your drop-down menu is controlled by a standard 'Choice' column in the SharePoint library.

SharePoint document properties are typically driven by library metadata columns rather than the global site navigation. To update the available options in a drop-down menu, you must edit the column settings directly within the library.

Open Library Settings

Navigate to your SharePoint document library, click the Settings (gear) icon in the top right corner, and select 'Library settings'.

Locate the Target Column

Scroll down to the 'Columns' section. Find and click on the name of the column that controls your drop-down menu (e.g., 'Campus').

Add New Drop-Down Values

In the column settings page, locate the 'Type each choice on a separate line' text box. Add your new values (such as 'District Resources' or 'Eanes ISD') on new lines, then scroll to the bottom and click 'OK' to save.

Update Choice Column Settings in the Document Library

Changes Applied: Once saved, the new drop-down options will be immediately available in the Properties pane for all documents in that library.

Solution 2

Update the Managed Metadata Term Set

Use this method if your column type is configured as 'Managed Metadata' rather than a simple choice list.

Solution 3

Create or Update a Library View

Perform this step if you need the newly tagged documents to appear organized on a specific SharePoint page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why didn't my site navigation update reflect in the document library properties?

SharePoint site navigation menus and document library properties operate independently. Navigation manages page links, while the properties pane relies on library-level metadata columns. You must update the specific choice column or term set to reflect new options.

Can I bulk-update multiple documents with the new drop-down value?

Yes. Once you add the new value to the drop-down menu, you can use the 'Edit in grid view' (Quick Edit) feature in the document library to select and drag the new value across multiple files simultaneously.

What happens to existing documents if I rename a choice in the drop-down menu?

If you rename a choice in a standard Choice column, existing documents previously tagged with the old value will retain the old value as text. You will need to manually update them to the new choice.

Document & File Issues