SharePoint Document Issues

How to Show Related Items Through a Lookup Column in SharePoint

John Wilson Oct 16, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know if there is a way to view all destination-list items that reference a selected source-list item via a lookup column.

How to Show Related Items Through a Lookup Column in SharePoint

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to create a reverse lookup view in a source list to easily see all related records connected from a destination list.
Observed behavior: SharePoint does not provide an out-of-the-box reverse lookup view, meaning related items referencing the source item cannot be displayed natively.

Before you start

Ensure you have at least 'Edit' permissions on both the source and destination SharePoint lists, and verify your Microsoft 365 account has the appropriate licensing to create flows in Power Automate.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Power Automate to Maintain a Related Items Column

Create a flow in Power Automate to automatically sync related item details from the destination list back to a custom text column in the source list.

Since SharePoint doesn't natively support reverse lookup views, a Power Automate flow serves as a reliable workaround to keep related data visible directly on the source item.

Create a Target Column

Navigate to your source list in SharePoint, select 'Add column', and create a multiple-line text column named 'Related Items'.

Set Up Power Automate Trigger

Open Power Automate, create an Automated Cloud Flow, and select the SharePoint trigger 'When an item is created or modified' pointing to your destination list.

Fetch and Update Source Item

Add a 'Get item' action to retrieve the source item using the Lookup ID, then use an 'Update item' action to append or refresh the related item details in the newly created 'Related Items' column.

Use Power Automate to Maintain a Related Items Column

Automated Syncing: Once activated, this flow will run silently in the background, ensuring your source list always displays the latest connected records from the destination list.

Solution 2

Build a Custom Interface using Power Apps

Customize the SharePoint list form using Power Apps to display a dynamically filtered gallery of related destination-list items.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Looking for a Lightweight Office Suite? Try WPS Office

While SharePoint and Power Automate handle complex list relationships, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for your daily document, spreadsheet, and presentation needs without the steep learning curve.

1. Download the Application: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package for your Windows, Mac, or Linux device.
2. Open Existing Office Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files without worrying about formatting issues.
3. Collaborate Instantly: Use the built-in WPS Cloud features to share links with your team, allowing for real-time co-authoring and edits.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formatsBuilt-in PDF editing, conversion, and signing toolsLightweight architecture ensures fast loading on any deviceSeamless cloud collaboration for team document sharing

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a lookup column in SharePoint?

A lookup column is a specific column type in SharePoint that allows you to connect two lists by pulling data directly from a source list into a destination list, which helps reduce data duplication and maintains consistency.

Will Microsoft add a native reverse lookup feature to SharePoint?

Microsoft has not announced an out-of-the-box reverse lookup view yet. Users are encouraged to submit and upvote feature requests in the official SharePoint Feedback Community.

Can I use SharePoint lookups for many-to-many relationships?

SharePoint lists are inherently flat, making true many-to-many relationships difficult. However, you can simulate them by creating a hidden junction list that utilizes two separate lookup columns, though it requires custom Power Apps for a smooth user experience.

Document & File Issues