SharePoint Document Issues

How to Move a Microsoft List with Pictures to Another SharePoint Site

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to transfer a Microsoft List containing pictures between SharePoint sites without manually recreating hundreds of items.

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Migrating a heavily populated Microsoft List with image attachments to a new SharePoint site.
Observed behavior: Standard copying and Power Automate transfer attempts have failed. Saving as a list template exceeds the 50 MB size limit, and exporting to Excel produces an unexpected error message and a blank workbook.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions on both the source and target SharePoint sites before attempting to duplicate or migrate lists.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the 'From Existing List' Feature

This is the most straightforward native method to duplicate a list's structure and contents across SharePoint sites without manual recreation.

SharePoint provides a built-in feature to create a new list based on an existing one. While this easily duplicates the structure, you may still need to move the actual list items manually or via a workflow if the native copy doesn't fetch all attachments.

Navigate to the Target Site

Open the destination SharePoint site where you want the new list to reside.

Access Site Contents

Click on the gear icon in the top right corner and select 'Site contents'.

Create New List

Click on the 'New' dropdown menu and select 'List'.

Select the Source

Choose the 'From existing list' option, then select the source site and the specific list you want to copy.

Limitation Note: This method may only copy the list structure (columns and views). If picture attachments do not transfer, consider using Microsoft Access or a dedicated migration tool.

Solution 2

Transfer Data via Microsoft Access

Ideal for handling larger lists that exceed SharePoint template size limits or the 5,000-item threshold.

Solution 3

Utilize Third-Party Migration Tools

Best for complex enterprise migrations involving extensive picture attachments and massive datasets.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Exported List Data with WPS Office

While SharePoint handles your online lists, you often need a reliable spreadsheet tool to analyze, format, and review exported list data. WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative that seamlessly handles Excel files without heavy resource consumption.

1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office from the official website and follow the simple installation instructions.
2. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and click on 'Spreadsheet' to start a new workspace.
3. Import SharePoint Data: Open your downloaded SharePoint Excel export or CSV file directly in WPS Spreadsheet to view and analyze your list data locally.

Completely free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft OfficeFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx and .csv) for exported SharePoint dataFamiliar user interface requiring zero learning curveAll-in-one suite covering Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and PDF

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I get an unexpected error when exporting a SharePoint list to Excel?

This commonly occurs when a SharePoint list exceeds the 5,000-item view threshold or contains heavy rich-text and picture attachments that Excel struggles to format properly during a direct export.

What is the size limit for saving a SharePoint list as a template?

By default, the maximum size limit for a SharePoint list template (including all its content and pictures) is 50 MB. If your list exceeds this size, the template creation will fail.

Will the 'From existing list' feature copy my pictures as well?

The 'From existing list' feature primarily copies the list structure, including columns, views, and formatting. It often does not carry over list items and picture attachments, which is why data transfer tools or Microsoft Access might be required for the content itself.

Document & File Issues