SharePoint Internal Column Names Change When Creating Lists from Excel
Question details
Users experience an issue where creating a SharePoint list directly from an Excel file results in incorrect internal column names.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint / Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Importing an Excel spreadsheet to automatically generate and populate a new SharePoint List.
- Observed behavior
- Instead of using the Excel column headers (e.g., 'Occupation'), the SharePoint backend generates generic internal column names such as 'field_1' or 'field_2'. This breaks references in Power Apps and Power Automate, and the internal names cannot be modified after creation.
Before attempting workarounds, verify that your Excel table is formatted correctly and that your column headers do not contain hidden spaces or special characters, as these can sometimes trigger default internal naming.
Manually Create the SharePoint List to Preserve Internal Names
Since the Excel import tool currently defaults to generic internal names, creating the list structure manually is the most reliable workaround to ensure proper naming for Power Apps.
Internal names are derived from the very first title you assign to a column during manual creation. By building the list structure first and pasting the data later, you avoid the backend bug associated with the 'From Excel' import feature.
Navigate to your SharePoint site, click on 'New', and select 'List'. Choose 'Blank list' rather than 'From Excel'.
Add your new columns one by one. Type the exact name you want for the internal name (e.g., 'Occupation') without any spaces.
Once the column is successfully created, you can edit the column to change its display name (e.g., adding spaces). The internal name will permanently remain as originally typed.
Open your new SharePoint list and click 'Edit in grid view'. Copy the data directly from your Excel spreadsheet and paste it into the SharePoint grid.
Report the Issue via Microsoft 365 Admin Center
Because this issue is tied to the SharePoint backend behavior, reporting it to Microsoft support can help bring attention to the bug for future fixes.
Manage Your Spreadsheets Efficiently with WPS Office
While SharePoint list creation handles backend cloud integrations, you need a reliable and fast spreadsheet tool to manage your local data before importing. WPS Office is a feature-rich, lightweight alternative to heavy Office suites that makes formatting tables for SharePoint a breeze.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install the software: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to install the suite.
- 3. Open and format your Excel files: Launch WPS Spreadsheets to easily open, edit, and correctly format your existing Excel table headers before uploading them to SharePoint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are internal column names important in SharePoint?
Internal names act as the fixed system identifier for a column. They are heavily used in Power Apps, Power Automate, and custom coding. If an internal name is a generic 'field_1', it becomes very confusing to identify the correct data points when building scripts or app references.
Can I change a SharePoint internal column name after creating it?
No, SharePoint internal column names are permanent. Even if you modify the display name of the column in the list settings, the underlying internal name generated at creation remains completely unchanged.
How do I find the internal name of an existing SharePoint column?
You can find the internal name by navigating to your List Settings, clicking on the specific column name, and looking at the end of the URL in your browser. The internal name is the text that appears immediately after 'Field='.
