SharePoint Document Issues

How to Fix SharePoint Lookup Values Not Updating in Modern View

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to fix an issue where SharePoint List lookup values fail to update or display correctly in the Modern view.

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing and managing customized SharePoint Lists in the Modern view after modifying lookup columns.
Observed behavior: Lookup values appear correctly in Classic or Grid Mode but do not update in the Modern view, usually because the JSON formatting still references an old lookup column name.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary list editing permissions in SharePoint to access column settings and modify JSON formatting.

Solution 1Recommended

Update JSON Formatting References in the List View

Modify the column's JSON customization to ensure it references the updated lookup column name, which forces the Modern view to display the correct data.

SharePoint's Modern view heavily relies on JSON to format and display columns. If a column name was changed, the Classic view might automatically resolve it, but the custom JSON code in the Modern view remains statically linked to the old internal name.

Open Column Settings

Navigate to your SharePoint List in Modern view, click on the header of the lookup column that is not updating, and select 'Column settings' followed by 'Format this column'.

Review the JSON Code

In the formatting pane on the right side of the screen, carefully review the JSON code to identify any parameter references to the old column name.

Update the Column Name Parameter

Replace the outdated text parameter in the JSON script with the exact new internal name of your lookup column.

Save and Refresh

Click the 'Save' button at the bottom of the formatting pane, then refresh your web browser to verify that the lookup values now display correctly in the Modern view.

Tip for Finding Internal Column Names: You can find the correct internal name of your column by going to List Settings, clicking on the column name, and looking at the end of the page URL for 'Field='.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do SharePoint lookup values work in Classic view but not in Modern view?

The Modern view uses custom JSON formatting to render customized columns. If a column's internal name is changed, the Classic view automatically resolves the backend change, while the Modern view's JSON code stays statically linked to the outdated name until manually updated.

Do I need coding experience to fix SharePoint JSON formatting?

No advanced coding experience is required. You usually only need to locate the specific line in the JSON script that mentions your old column name and replace that specific text snippet with the new column name.

What should I do if updating the JSON parameter doesn't fix the lookup column?

If the issue persists, try clearing your browser cache, checking for field reference errors in other dependent columns, or temporarily removing and reapplying the JSON formatting entirely to reset the view.

Document & File Issues