How to Find a Missing SharePoint or Microsoft List Created from Excel
Question details
The user needs to locate a Microsoft List or SharePoint list that was generated from an Excel workbook but is currently missing or not visible in its expected location.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint and Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Navigating SharePoint or the Microsoft Lists application to find a previously created list.
- Observed behavior
- A list that was successfully created from an Excel file is no longer visible in the standard workspace or the user cannot find the correct directory for it.
Ensure you are logged into the correct Microsoft account associated with your organization, and verify that you have the necessary viewing permissions for the SharePoint site or OneDrive directory.
Locate the List Directly in SharePoint
Use this method if you originally created the list within a specific SharePoint team site.
SharePoint stores all user-generated lists and libraries within the overarching Site Contents directory. If a list disappears from your site navigation, it can usually be recovered or located here.
Navigate to your SharePoint site and click on the gear icon (Settings) located in the top-right corner of the screen.
Select 'Site contents' from the dropdown menu to view a comprehensive directory of all lists, document libraries, and apps associated with the site.
Browse the list of contents to see if your missing Excel-generated list is present. Use the search bar on the Site Contents page if the directory is large.
If the list is still missing, click on the 'Recycle bin' link usually found in the top-right corner or the left-hand navigation pane to see if the list was accidentally deleted, and restore it if necessary.
Locate the List in the Microsoft Lists App
Use this method if you created the list using the standalone Microsoft Lists application rather than a specific SharePoint site.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can my colleagues see the SharePoint list but I cannot?
This is typically caused by permission settings. Ask the site owner to verify your access rights for that specific list. It is possible the list has unique permissions applied that exclude your user account.
Does deleting the original Excel file also delete the Microsoft List created from it?
No. Once a list is created from an Excel workbook, the list functions independently. Deleting or moving the original Excel file will not affect the newly created SharePoint or Microsoft List.
How long do deleted lists stay in the SharePoint recycle bin?
Items in the standard SharePoint recycle bin are usually kept for 93 days before they are permanently deleted, unless manually purged by an administrator or user beforehand.
