Microsoft 365 Error Codes

How to Fix the dataEntityDefinition Error in SharePoint Power Apps Forms

Khadija Khan Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are unable to customize a new SharePoint list form or add the list to an existing canvas app due to a specific error stopping the process.

How to Fix the dataEntityDefinition Error in SharePoint Power Apps Forms

Product: SharePoint and Power Apps
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to customize a new SharePoint list form using Power Apps or connecting the SharePoint list to an existing Power Apps canvas app.
Observed behavior: The Power Apps form closes unexpectedly and displays a dataEntityDefinition error.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary Site Owner or Full Control permissions in your SharePoint environment to access list settings and modify or delete custom forms.

Solution 1Recommended

Delete Existing Custom Forms and Clear Browser Cache

This is the primary method to reset any corrupted metadata or conflicts causing the form error.

The dataEntityDefinition error often occurs due to hidden conflicts from previously configured custom forms. Reverting to the default SharePoint form can clear these conflicts.

Access List Settings

Open your SharePoint list, click the gear icon in the top right corner, and select 'List Settings'.

Open Form Settings

Under the General Settings column, click on 'Form Settings'.

Delete Custom Form

Check if there is an existing custom form configured for the list. If one exists, select the option to delete the custom form and revert to the default SharePoint form.

Clear Browser Cache

Open your web browser settings, clear your cache and cookies, and restart the browser to ensure no old data is retained.

Retry Customization

Navigate back to your SharePoint list and attempt to customize the form with Power Apps again.

Delete Existing Custom Forms and Clear Browser Cache

Data Safety: Deleting the custom form will only remove the Power Apps user interface overlay. Your underlying SharePoint list columns and data will not be deleted.

Solution 2

Customize the List Separately in Power Apps

Use this workaround if customizing directly from the SharePoint interface continues to fail.

Solution 3

Escalate to a Microsoft 365 Administrator

If backend database issues prevent the previous solutions from working, professional support is required.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the dataEntityDefinition error mean in Power Apps?

This error typically indicates a metadata conflict or corruption between the underlying SharePoint list schema and the custom form definition in Power Apps. It usually happens when previous partial customizations break the data connection properties.

Why does the error persist when adding the list to an existing canvas app?

Existing canvas apps cache the schema of their connected data sources. If the SharePoint list's underlying data entity definition is conflicting with a previously saved custom form, the canvas app fails to properly read the updated schema, triggering the error.

Will deleting the custom form from Form Settings erase my SharePoint list data?

No, deleting the custom form only removes the Power Apps user interface that overlays your list. The actual list columns, structure, and all saved records will remain completely intact and revert to using the standard SharePoint form layout.

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