How to Use Python to Read and Write SharePoint Files
Question details
The user needs to programmatically read, create, update, and delete CSV files hosted on a Microsoft SharePoint site using a Python script.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Automating document management and data manipulation on a SharePoint server through Python code.
- Observed behavior
- The process requires configuring proper SharePoint permissions, Microsoft Entra ID authentication flows, and Microsoft Graph or REST API endpoints.
Before you begin writing your Python script, ensure you have administrative access to the Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) portal to register an application and grant the necessary API permissions.
Configure Microsoft Graph API and Entra ID Authentication
To securely access SharePoint files via Python, you must use Microsoft Graph API and set up OAuth 2.0 authentication.
Accessing SharePoint files programmatically cannot be done with standard file paths unless the drive is synced locally. Instead, it requires authenticating a script using the Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL) and calling Microsoft Graph API endpoints.
Log in to the Microsoft Entra admin center, navigate to 'App registrations', and create a new application to generate your Client ID and Tenant ID.
Under 'Certificates & secrets' in your registered app, create a new client secret. Save this value securely, as your Python script will use it to authenticate.
Go to 'API permissions', click 'Add a permission', select 'Microsoft Graph', and add 'Files.ReadWrite.All' or 'Sites.ReadWrite.All'. Ensure you click 'Grant admin consent' for your organization.
Because specific authentication flows and API versions vary, it is highly recommended to post your exact scenario in the official SharePoint Microsoft Q&A forum for tailored Python code snippets and troubleshooting.
Manage Your Exported Data with WPS Office
While you use Python to automate your SharePoint data extraction, you will still need a reliable local application to open, inspect, and format those CSV and Excel files. WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative to Microsoft Office.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite.
- 2. Open your generated file: Launch WPS Spreadsheets, click on 'Menu' > 'Open', and locate the CSV file your Python script generated.
- 3. Analyze your data: Use the familiar spreadsheet tools to format cells, create charts, and verify your Python automation results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Python library is best for authenticating with SharePoint?
The most officially supported library is the Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL) for Python. It handles OAuth 2.0 token requests seamlessly, which you can then pass to the `requests` library to call Microsoft Graph API endpoints.
Why does my Python script get a '403 Forbidden' error when writing to a SharePoint CSV?
This error usually indicates that your registered application in Microsoft Entra ID lacks the necessary permissions, such as 'Files.ReadWrite.All', or that a tenant administrator has not granted admin consent for those permissions.
Can I use standard local file paths to read a SharePoint file in Python?
No, you cannot use standard file paths (e.g., 'C:/Documents/file.csv') unless the SharePoint document library is actively synchronized to your local machine using the OneDrive sync client. Otherwise, remote files must be accessed via API HTTP requests.
