How to Remove a Person from a SharePoint Person or Group Column
Question details
The user needs to permanently remove a person's name from a SharePoint Person or Group field without the name reverting or reappearing.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing an existing item form in a SharePoint list or library to clear a user's name from a specific field.
- Observed behavior
- When the name is removed from the Person or Group field using the standard item form, it reappears as soon as the form loses focus.
Verify that you have the appropriate Edit or Contribute permissions for the specific SharePoint list or library before attempting to modify its items.
Remove the Person Using Edit in Grid View
Bypass the standard item form behavior by deleting the user directly from SharePoint's grid view, which forces the system to accept the empty value.
This recurring issue generally happens in the 'Edit all' standard form because SharePoint natively expects the Person or Group field to retain or replace the user value. Switching to grid view overrides this form behavior.
Navigate to the specific SharePoint list or document library where the item is located.
Click on 'Edit in grid view' located on the top command bar of the list.
Locate the row of the item you want to edit, click on the Person or Group field, and click the 'X' beside the person's name to remove them.
Click 'Exit grid view' on the top command bar to save the item and apply your changes permanently.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a deleted name reappear in SharePoint fields?
This happens due to a known behavior in SharePoint's standard item form. The system expects a Person or Group field to either retain its value or be replaced with a new one, causing it to revert to the previous name when the field loses focus.
Do I need special admin rights to use the grid view workaround?
No special admin rights are required. You only need the standard Edit or Contribute permissions that allow you to modify items within that specific SharePoint list or library.
How do I safely contact Microsoft Support if the issue persists?
You should ask your organization's Microsoft 365 tenant administrator to open a support ticket directly through the Microsoft 365 admin center. Avoid calling unverified phone numbers posted by users online to protect your security.
