SharePoint Document Issues

How to Fix Missing File Names in SharePoint Document Library

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are experiencing an issue where file names are missing or failing to display in a modern SharePoint Document Library.

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing files within a modern SharePoint document library or a document-library web part.
Observed behavior: File names are completely blank or missing from the default Name column across multiple views and browsers, despite the files existing in the library.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary site member or owner permissions to edit library views and modify column settings in your SharePoint environment.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable the 'Name (for use in forms)' Column

Bypasses corrupted default Name column configurations by utilizing a built-in alternative column that reliably displays file names.

Open library view options

Navigate to your SharePoint document library and click on 'Add column' located at the far right of the column headers.

Access hidden columns

Select 'Show/hide columns' from the dropdown menu to open the column editing pane on the right side of your screen.

Select the alternative Name column

Scroll through the list, check the box next to 'Name (for use in forms)', and click 'Apply' at the top or bottom of the pane.

Reposition the column

Drag the newly added 'Name (for use in forms)' column to the far left of your view so it acts as your primary file name identifier.

Verified Fix: This method has been confirmed by users to instantly restore file name visibility when the standard Name columns fail to render.

Solution 2

Troubleshoot Browser and Custom JSON Formatting

Helps isolate whether the missing file names are caused by browser-specific issues, corrupted web parts, or custom JSON column formatting conflicts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are file names suddenly missing in my SharePoint library?

Missing file names typically result from corrupted default column configurations, conflicting JSON column formatting, or browser-cache issues interfering with modern SharePoint site themes.

Does changing the SharePoint library view delete my files?

No, altering a library view only changes how the data is visually presented to the user. Your actual files, folders, and metadata remain perfectly safe on the SharePoint server.

How do I remove JSON formatting from a SharePoint column?

Click the targeted column header, select 'Column settings', then 'Format this column'. In the formatting pane, erase the custom JSON code in the advanced editor window and click 'Save'.

Can I rename the 'Name (for use in forms)' column?

Yes. You can change the display name of this column in the Library Settings to simply say 'Name', making it look identical to the original default column while retaining its functionality.

Document & File Issues