Data Import & Export

How to Use Power Automate to Import Daily Excel Email Attachments into SharePoint

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

Automate the process of extracting daily Excel email attachments with dynamic filenames and importing their table data into a SharePoint list.

How to Use Power Automate to Import Daily Excel Email Attachments into SharePoint

Product: Power Automate / SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Receiving a daily automated email containing an Excel report (e.g., from ServiceNow) and needing to update a SharePoint list without having direct database access.
Observed behavior: The user wants to trigger an automated flow that identifies the attachment by sender or subject, saves the dynamic file to a SharePoint library, and accurately processes a specific table into a SharePoint list.

Before you start

Ensure you have an active Microsoft 365 account with permissions to create Power Automate flows and edit the destination SharePoint list. The daily Excel attachment must contain data formatted as a Table (e.g., 'TbIncidents'), as Power Automate requires a recognized table structure to read rows.

Solution 1Recommended

Automate Excel Data Import to SharePoint via Power Automate

Create a cloud flow that triggers on new emails, saves the attachment to a SharePoint document library, and maps the Excel rows to update a SharePoint list.

This automated process relies on several connected actions. First, it identifies the correct incoming email based on specific criteria. Then, it extracts the file and places it in a SharePoint folder. Finally, it reads the data table inside the Excel file and updates the corresponding list items.

Configure the Email Trigger

Log in to Power Automate and select 'Create' > 'Automated cloud flow'. Choose 'When a new email arrives (V3)' as the trigger. In the trigger settings, specify the 'From' address or 'Subject Filter' to ensure the flow only runs for the specific daily report email.

Save the Attachment to SharePoint

Add a new step and search for the SharePoint 'Create file' action. Select your Site Address and Folder Path. For the 'File Name' and 'File Content', use dynamic content to select 'Attachments Name' and 'Attachments Content' from the email trigger. This handles the changing file name automatically.

Extract Excel Data

Add an 'Excel Online (Business)' action and choose 'List rows present in a table'. Select the same SharePoint site and document library. For the 'File' field, use the dynamic 'Id' from the previous 'Create file' step. Type in the exact name of the table inside your Excel file (e.g., TbIncidents).

Update the SharePoint List

Add an 'Apply to each' control and select the 'value' list of items from the previous step. Inside this loop, add a SharePoint 'Create item' or 'Update item' action. Map the dynamic columns extracted from your Excel table to the respective fields in your SharePoint list.

Automate Excel Data Import to SharePoint via Power Automate

Handling Existing Files: If you want to overwrite the same file every day instead of creating duplicates, manually type a static file name (e.g., 'DailyReport.xlsx') in the 'Create file' step rather than using the dynamic Attachment Name.

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1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free suite and install it on your device.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Power Automate fail to read my Excel attachment?

Power Automate requires data to be formatted as an official Excel Table (e.g., Table1). If your daily export is just raw data in a worksheet without a table structure, the 'List rows present in a table' action will fail.

How do I handle daily email attachments with changing file names?

In your Power Automate flow, use dynamic content in the 'Create file' action. Select 'Attachments Name' from the email trigger so the flow automatically adapts to whatever name the file has that day.

How can I prevent the flow from processing irrelevant email attachments?

Within the 'When a new email arrives' trigger, ensure you toggle 'Include Attachments' and 'Only with Attachments' to Yes. You can also add a Condition step right after the trigger to check if the 'Attachments Name' ends with '.xlsx'.

Excel & Data Problems