Power Query Problems

Fix Excel Power Query Cannot Find Files When Importing from a Folder

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 19, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user encounters a 'No items match your search' error in Excel Power Query when attempting to import multiple files from a specific folder.

How to Fix Excel Power Query Cannot Find Files When Importing Data from a Folder

Product: Microsoft Excel 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Importing and combining multiple data files using the Data > Get Data > From File > From Folder feature.
Observed behavior: Power Query fails to recognize the files in the directory and displays a 'No items match your search' message, preventing the data import.

Before you start

Before proceeding, verify that none of the target files are currently open in another program and that you have full read and write permissions for the source directory.

Solution 1Recommended

Standardize Folder Contents and File Schemas

Ensure the target folder contains only the necessary data files and that all files share the exact same structural schema.

Power Query requires a consistent data structure to combine files automatically. If your folder contains unsupported file types, hidden temp files, or files with varying structures, the import process will fail to locate matching data items.

Create a dedicated folder

Create a new, empty folder on your desktop or drive. Move only the specific files you intend to combine into this folder. Ensure there are no subfolders containing unrelated data.

Verify column headers and data types

Open the files individually to check that they all share consistent column headers, data types, and the same number of columns. Note that column order does not matter, as matching is based on column names.

Remove unsupported objects

Ensure your files do not contain unrelated data objects that can disrupt the query. Avoid including extraneous worksheets, JSON elements, or Access database tables in these files.

Retry the folder import

In Excel, navigate to the Data tab on the ribbon. Click 'Get Data', select 'From File', choose 'From Folder', select your newly created dedicated folder, and attempt the import again.

Standardize Folder Contents and File Schemas

Subfolder Inclusion: By default, the 'From Folder' operation includes all files within the selected folder and any of its subfolders. Keeping the directory clean is crucial.

Solution 2

Update Microsoft Excel to the Latest Version

An outdated Excel build can cause bugs or compatibility issues with Power Query. Updating ensures you have the latest fixes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Power Query say the folder is empty when files are present?

This usually happens if the file types in the directory are not supported, if there is a severe mismatch in file schemas causing the preview to fail, or if you lack read permissions for the specific files inside the folder.

Do all files in the folder need to have the exact same column order?

No, the columns do not have to be in the exact same order. Power Query intelligently matches data based on column header names. As long as the headers and data types match, the import will succeed.

Can I prevent Power Query from importing subfolders?

By default, the 'From Folder' option pulls files from the selected folder and all of its subfolders. To exclude subfolders, you must click 'Transform Data' instead of 'Combine', and filter the 'Folder Path' column in the Power Query Editor to only include the parent directory before expanding the data.

Excel & Data Problems