SharePoint Document Issues

How to Patch and Update Multiple SharePoint Lookup Values in Power Apps

Anum Mushtaq Oct 15, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to patch updates to a SharePoint list using a Power Apps multi-select combo box connected to Office 365, while displaying the selected countries as comma-separated values.

How to Patch and Update Multiple SharePoint Lookup Values in Power Apps

Product: Power Apps
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Building a Power Apps application that requires users to select multiple options (such as countries) from a combo box and save those multiple lookup values back into a SharePoint list.
Observed behavior: The application needs a specific Patch formula and combo box configuration to successfully write a table of multiple selected records to a SharePoint multi-value lookup column.

Before you start

Ensure that the target column in your SharePoint list is configured as a Lookup column and that the 'Allow multiple values' checkbox is explicitly checked in the list settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the SelectedItems Property in the Patch Function

Configure your combo box for multi-selection and use its SelectedItems property to pass a table of records directly to the SharePoint lookup column.

SharePoint multi-value lookup columns expect a table of records containing specific identifiers. By binding the combo box directly to the Choices of the SharePoint column, Power Apps automatically shapes the data correctly when using the SelectedItems property.

Enable multiple selections on the Combo Box

Select your Combo Box in Power Apps. In the properties pane, set the 'SelectMultiple' property to 'true'.

Bind the Combo Box to SharePoint choices

Set the 'Items' property of the Combo Box to Choices([@YourSharePointList].YourLookupColumnName). This ensures the identifiers match what SharePoint expects.

Write the Patch formula

On your submit button's 'OnSelect' property, use the Patch function: Patch(YourSharePointList, Defaults(YourSharePointList), {YourLookupColumnName: ComboBoxName.SelectedItems}).

Display as comma-separated values

If you need to display the selections as text elsewhere, insert a Label and set its 'Text' property to Concat(ComboBoxName.SelectedItems, Value, ", ").

Use the SelectedItems Property in the Patch Function

Data Connection Refresh: If Power Apps shows a type mismatch error, try refreshing your SharePoint data connection by going to the Data tab, clicking the ellipsis next to your list, and selecting 'Refresh'.

Solution 2

Seek Advanced Help in the Power Apps Community

If you are using a complex custom collection instead of direct SharePoint choices, you may need a specialized data shaping formula.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Exported SharePoint Documents with WPS Office

While Power Apps handles your automated SharePoint list updates, WPS Office is the perfect lightweight, free alternative for opening, editing, and analyzing the Excel spreadsheets and Word documents exported from your Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and click the free download button for your operating system.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer file and follow the quick on-screen instructions to set up the software.
3. Open SharePoint Exports: Export your SharePoint list data to Excel, right-click the downloaded file, and choose 'Open with WPS Office' to view and analyze your records.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint formatsLightweight installation that runs smoothly on older devicesCompletely free core features for your daily document tasksFamiliar tabbed user interface for a zero-learning-curve transition

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Power Apps Patch function throw a type mismatch error on a lookup column?

This error occurs when the data type provided to the lookup column does not match the expected record table structure. A SharePoint lookup column requires a record (or table of records for multi-select) containing the 'Id' and 'Value' properties. Ensure you are passing ComboBox.SelectedItems and that the combo box Items property is bound directly to the SharePoint Choices.

How can I display multiple combo box selections as a single comma-separated string?

Use the Concat function in Power Apps. By setting a label's text property to Concat(ComboBoxName.SelectedItems, Value, ", "), Power Apps will iterate through the selected items and string them together, separated by a comma and a space.

Is patching a multi-select Choice column the same as a Lookup column?

They are similar but have different schema requirements. A multi-select Choice column only requires a table with a 'Value' property. A Lookup column links to another list and generally requires both the 'Id' (the unique identifier from the source list) and the 'Value'.

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