File Format & Compatibility

How to Fix SharePoint Flow Creating a CSV File That Cannot Be Opened

Camila Milosovich Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

A Power Automate flow successfully creates a file in SharePoint, but the output lacks a file extension and cannot be opened as a CSV file.

How to Fix SharePoint Flow Creating a CSV File That Cannot Be Opened

Product: Power Automate / SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Automating the creation of data exports or backups into a SharePoint document library using a flow.
Observed behavior: The generated file is saved without the .csv extension, causing spreadsheet applications to fail to recognize or open the file properly.

Before you start

Ensure you have permission to edit the Power Automate flow in your Microsoft 365 environment and that you know the exact name of the file creation action.

Solution 1Recommended

Append the .csv Extension in the Flow Action

Explicitly define the .csv file extension within the Power Automate file creation step so the resulting file is instantly recognized by spreadsheet programs.

Power Automate's file creation action does not automatically append extensions based on file content. It strictly relies on the exact string provided in the 'File Name' field. If the extension is omitted, the operating system will not know which application to use when opening the file.

Edit your flow

Locate the Create file action

Find the specific SharePoint 'Create file' step within your flow where the file name and content are defined.

Add the extension to the file name

In the 'File Name' input box, add '.csv' to the end of your dynamic or static file name string (for example, change 'daily-backup' to 'daily-backup.csv').

Save and test

Save your modified flow and run a test. Check your SharePoint folder to ensure the new file displays a spreadsheet icon and opens correctly.

Append the .csv Extension in the Flow Action

Resolution Confirmed: Adding the correct extension allows any compatible spreadsheet application to parse the comma-separated values automatically upon opening.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Open and Edit CSV Files Easily with WPS Office

If you frequently work with automated SharePoint data exports and CSV files, WPS Office provides a robust, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office for all your data analysis needs.

1. Launch WPS Spreadsheets: Open WPS Office and select the Spreadsheets module.
2. Open the CSV File: Click Menu > Open, browse to your downloaded SharePoint CSV file, and select it.
3. Analyze Data: Use WPS Spreadsheets' built-in tools to filter, format, and analyze your automated data exports.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats including .xlsx, .xls, and .csvLightweight design ensures incredibly fast loading of large CSV data filesFree to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate spreadsheet interfaceSeamlessly imports and formats raw data exports from automated workflows

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I manually fix the files that were already created without an extension?

Yes. You can download the extensionless files from SharePoint to your local computer, right-click them, select 'Rename', and manually add '.csv' to the end of the filename. Your spreadsheet software will then be able to recognize and open them.

Why doesn't Power Automate add the .csv extension automatically?

The 'Create file' action in Power Automate is designed to be versatile and can create any file type (PDF, DOCX, TXT, etc.). It does not scan the file content to guess the format; it relies entirely on the exact text you provide in the File Name field.

How do I open a file with no extension if I cannot rename it?

You can open your spreadsheet application first, go to File > Open, change the file type filter to 'All Files (*.*)', browse to your downloaded extensionless file, and open it. You may be prompted by a Text Import Wizard to specify the delimiter.

What should I do if my CSV data appears squeezed into a single column?

This happens when the spreadsheet software does not recognize the delimiter used in the file. You can fix this by selecting the column containing the data, navigating to the Data tab, and using the 'Text to Columns' feature to split the data using commas as the delimiter.

Document & File Issues