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Fix SharePoint JSON Column Formatting Not Updating Correctly

Camila Milosovich Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

User needs to resolve an issue where SharePoint JSON column formatting fails to dynamically update button or header text after a flow runs, and the setValue action behaves inconsistently.

Fix SharePoint JSON Column Formatting Not Updating Correctly

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Using custom JSON formatting in a SharePoint list to update UI elements and trigger flows, but the visual updates fail to render properly.
Observed behavior: The JSON column formatting does not update the specified text as expected, and the setValue action is inconsistent, indicating a potential code issue or recent product change.

Before you start

Verify that your JSON code is syntactically valid and review Microsoft Learn documentation for any recently deprecated column formatting properties.

Solution 1Recommended

Consult Microsoft Q&A SharePoint Specialists

Escalate the issue to Microsoft specialists, as inconsistent behavior in the setValue action often stems from undocumented SharePoint product changes or platform updates.

Because SharePoint online environments receive continuous updates, specific customRowAction behaviors like setValue can sometimes temporarily break. Community specialists and Microsoft engineers monitor the Microsoft Q&A forums to investigate these platform-level anomalies.

Gather your code and environment details

Collect your complete JSON formatting code, the exact steps to reproduce the issue, the expected behavior, and the current erroneous results you are seeing in your SharePoint list.

Navigate to Microsoft Q&A

Open your web browser and go to the official Microsoft Q&A community platform.

Post your question with the correct tags

Create a new question detailing the inconsistencies. Ensure you tag your post with 'SharePoint Development' so that the appropriate engineers and specialists can investigate whether it is a code issue or a backend SharePoint change.

Consult Microsoft Q&A SharePoint Specialists

Why this is necessary: If the JSON is perfectly valid but the UI fails to update after a flow run, it is highly likely a platform-side synchronization bug that only Microsoft's internal teams can address.

Solution 2

Validate JSON Syntax and Supported Properties

Ensure that the JSON is structurally sound and strictly uses currently supported column formatting properties.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the setValue action in SharePoint JSON formatting not working reliably?

The setValue action can behave inconsistently due to recent SharePoint backend updates, caching delays, or using unsupported property combinations within the customRowAction object. Checking Microsoft Q&A for known active bugs is highly recommended.

Can I use JSON column formatting to trigger a Power Automate flow?

Yes, you can use the customRowAction property combined with the executeFlow action in your JSON formatting code to create a clickable button that triggers a specific Power Automate flow directly from a SharePoint list.

How do I debug SharePoint JSON column formatting issues?

You can debug JSON formatting by testing the code incrementally in the column format panel. Strip the code down to its simplest form, check the browser developer console for any output errors, and validate your JSON structure using an external linting tool.

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