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Fix InfoPath People Field Showing Claims Identifier Instead of Display Name

Camila Milosovich Oct 9, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to display the actual name of a user in an InfoPath form, but the field is returning a claims-formatted string, preventing proper name resolution.

How to Fix InfoPath People Field Showing a Claims Identifier Instead of a Display Name

Product: Microsoft InfoPath
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Using the People and Groups field within a SharePoint-connected InfoPath form.
Observed behavior: The field outputs a SharePoint claims-formatted value (such as i:0#.w|domain\user) instead of the user's standard display name.

Before you start

Ensure you have InfoPath Designer installed and proper permissions to modify the SharePoint site's User Information List or User Profile Service data connections.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure a Data Connection to Map the Display Name

Use a secondary data connection to the SharePoint User Information List to map the claims identifier back to the user's readable display name.

Since modern SharePoint environments use claims-based authentication, the default output of a People Picker field is often the claims identifier (e.g., i:0#.w|...). By querying the site's User Information List, you can cross-reference this identifier to retrieve and display the correct Title (Display Name).

Add a new data connection

Open your form in InfoPath Designer. Navigate to the 'Data' tab and click on 'Data Connections'. Add a new 'Receive data' connection from a SharePoint library or list.

Connect to the User Information List

Enter your SharePoint site URL and select the 'User Information List'. Choose the 'Name' field (which holds the claims ID) and the 'Title' field (which holds the display name).

Create a display field

Add a standard Text Box to your form where you want the user's display name to appear.

Set up an action rule

Create a rule on your People Picker field that sets the value of the new Text Box. Use a formula to look up the 'Title' from the secondary data connection where the 'Name' matches your People Picker's AccountId.

Configure a Data Connection to Map the Display Name

Alternative Formatting: In some environments, you can also use InfoPath's substring-after() function to strip the 'i:0#.w|' prefix if you only need the raw account name rather than the full display name.

Solution 2

Consult Microsoft Q&A for Advanced SharePoint Development

If standard data connections do not resolve the claims output, seek targeted assistance from SharePoint developers in the Microsoft community.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does SharePoint return a claims identifier instead of a standard name?

SharePoint uses claims-based authentication to manage user identities securely across different domains and services. When an InfoPath form queries user data, SharePoint often returns the underlying unique claims identifier (e.g., i:0#.w|) rather than the friendly display name to ensure absolute accuracy in permissions and workflows.

What does a claims-formatted identifier look like in InfoPath?

A typical claims identifier in a SharePoint/InfoPath environment includes prefixes that denote the identity provider and authentication type. For example, 'i:0#.w|domain\username' or 'i:0#.f|membership|user@domain.com'. The exact prefix varies based on whether Windows authentication or Forms-based authentication is used.

Is Microsoft InfoPath still supported by Microsoft?

Microsoft InfoPath 2013 is the final version of the software. While it remains supported for legacy applications until 2026, Microsoft has deprecated the product and recommends migrating to modern alternatives like Power Apps for SharePoint form customization.

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