SharePoint Document Issues

How to Remove the Alternative Text Field from a SharePoint List

Phi Hung Vo Oct 8, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to delete the Alternative Text field from a SharePoint list but cannot find it listed as a removable column in the list settings.

How to Remove the Alternative Text Field from a SharePoint List

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing a SharePoint list form and attempting to remove unwanted data fields.
Observed behavior: The Alternative text field is not visible as a separate, removable column in the list settings because it is intrinsically linked to the Issue source (Hyperlink) field.

Before you start

Ensure you have the appropriate site permissions (Design or Full Control) to customize the SharePoint list and access to Microsoft Power Apps.

Solution 1Recommended

Hide the Alternative Text Field Using Power Apps

Since the Alternative text field is tied to a hyperlink column and cannot be deleted natively, you can effectively remove it from user view by customizing the list form in Power Apps.

In SharePoint, 'Alternative text' is not a standalone column. It is a built-in sub-property associated with hyperlink columns (such as the 'Issue source' field) designed to provide display text for URLs. Because it is part of another column's structure, standard SharePoint column settings will not allow you to delete it. The recommended workaround is to hide it from the input form so users do not see it.

Open the SharePoint List

Navigate to the SharePoint list containing the Alternative text field you want to hide.

Launch Power Apps Customization

Click on the 'Integrate' menu at the top of the list, select 'Power Apps', and then click 'Customize forms'.

Select the Data Card

Once Power Apps Studio loads, locate the 'SharePointForm1' object in the left Tree View. Expand it and select the data card associated with the 'Issue source' or hyperlink column.

Hide the Alternative Text Control

Within the selected data card, find the specific control for the Alternative Text field. In the right-side Properties pane, toggle the 'Visible' property to 'Off' (or change the formula to 'false').

Save and Publish

Click 'File', select 'Save', and then click 'Publish to SharePoint'. Your users will no longer see the Alternative text field when creating or editing list items.

Hide the Alternative Text Field Using Power Apps

Data Preservation: This method only hides the field from the user interface. It does not delete the underlying column architecture or any existing data stored in the database.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Alternative Text field appear in my SharePoint list automatically?

The Alternative Text field is automatically generated when you add a 'Hyperlink or Picture' column to your list. It is designed to hold the descriptive text that users can click on, rather than showing a long, messy URL string.

Can I permanently delete the Alternative Text field without using Power Apps?

No, it is a hardcoded component of the hyperlink field type in Microsoft SharePoint. Standard list settings do not offer an option to separate or delete this sub-property. You can only hide it via form customization.

Do I need a special license to customize SharePoint forms with Power Apps?

Basic customization of SharePoint list forms using Power Apps is generally included with standard Microsoft 365 or Office 365 enterprise licenses that include SharePoint. No premium standalone Power Apps license is usually required for this specific task.

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