SharePoint Document Issues

Why SharePoint Export to Excel Shows a Different Stream Video Link

Amos Gikunda Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know why SharePoint's Export to Excel feature exports a file's relative path instead of the clickable Stream for SharePoint video viewer URL, and how to properly extract and display the viewer link in Excel.

Why Export to Excel Uses a Different SharePoint Stream Video Link

Product: SharePoint and Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Exporting a SharePoint document library containing Stream videos to Microsoft Excel.
Observed behavior: The Excel export displays the file's relative library path rather than the complete Stream for SharePoint viewer URL (which includes the stream.aspx path and an encoded file identifier).

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary permissions to create and run Power Automate flows within your SharePoint environment, and verify your specific SharePoint site URL structure.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Power Automate to Generate the Stream for SharePoint URL

Since the standard export function retrieves only relative paths, you can use a custom Power Automate flow to construct the exact Stream URL and pair it with an Excel formula.

The Export to Excel feature is designed to export the library file's relative path by default, meaning it intentionally bypasses the specific viewer path shown in Stream for SharePoint.

To retrieve the actual clickable viewer link, you must build the URL string (including the stream.aspx path and encoded file identifier) through Power Automate and populate it into an Excel table.

Set up your Excel table

Create an Excel table in your destination workbook with designated columns for the 'Stream Video Name' and the 'Path URL'.

Create a Power Automate Flow

Build a flow that triggers when a file is added or modified in your SharePoint library to extract the encoded file path.

Construct the Stream URL string

Configure your flow to combine your site format with the extracted path, looking similar to: https://[tenant].sharepoint.com/sites/[sitename]/_layouts/15/stream.aspx?id=[encoded_path].

Write the URL to Excel

Set the flow action to write this raw text URL directly into the 'Path URL' column of your Excel table.

Create a clickable hyperlink formula

In a new column in your Excel table, enter the formula =HYPERLINK([@[Path URL]], [@[Stream Video Name]]) to generate a clean, clickable hyperlink for the video.

Use Power Automate to Generate the Stream for SharePoint URL

Preventing Hyperlink Overwrites: Adding the raw URL text via Power Automate and using the HYPERLINK formula within Excel prevents the flow from accidentally overwriting the last-row hyperlink each time it runs.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Exported Spreadsheets Effortlessly with WPS Office

While SharePoint integrations belong to the Microsoft ecosystem, you can seamlessly open, manage, and edit your exported data tables using WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative for working with complex Excel formulas.

1. Export your SharePoint list: Use the standard SharePoint export feature to download your data as an Excel file.
2. Open with WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open the exported .xlsx file to view your data.
3. Apply your formulas: Use standard Excel formulas within WPS Spreadsheet to organize, filter, and hyperlink your Stream video URLs.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) file formats.Easily execute complex functions like the =HYPERLINK() formula for managing exported URLs.Lightweight software architecture that runs smoothly on older devices.Familiar tabbed interface requiring zero learning curve for new users.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't the default Export to Excel button include the correct Stream video link?

SharePoint's default export architecture is designed to pull raw data and relative file paths from the document library. It does not automatically query or generate the specialized viewer URL (stream.aspx) used by the Stream for SharePoint application.

Can I manually fix the Stream URL in Excel without using Power Automate?

Yes. If you only have a few files, you can manually construct the URL by appending your file's encoded relative path to the base Stream viewer URL. However, for large document libraries, a Power Automate flow is highly recommended to automate this tedious process.

Will the HYPERLINK formula work if I export my SharePoint list to a CSV file?

No, CSV (Comma Separated Values) files store plain text only and do not support spreadsheet formulas or clickable hyperlinks. You must save or export the file as a standard Excel Workbook (.xlsx) for the =HYPERLINK() function to work.

Document & File Issues