How to Add a SharePoint-Based Drop-Down Field in Power Apps
Question details
The user needs to insert a drop-down menu in a Power Apps form where the selectable options are dynamically populated from a separate SharePoint list.
- Product
- Power Apps, SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating or editing a custom Power Apps form connected to a SharePoint environment.
- Observed behavior
- A static text field or unconfigured drop-down is currently present, and the goal is to link a Drop down control to pull choices from a specific SharePoint list.
Ensure you have the necessary edit permissions for both the Power Apps canvas app and the target SharePoint lists you intend to use as your data sources.
Configure the Drop-Down Control's Items Property
Use the native Drop down control in Power Apps and link it to your external SharePoint list to fetch the choices dynamically.
By replacing the default text input field in your Power Apps data card with a Drop down control, you can force users to select predefined values directly from a secondary SharePoint list. This minimizes data entry errors and ensures consistency.
Open your app in Power Apps Studio. Select the specific data card in your form where you want the drop-down to appear, unlock the data card from the right properties pane, delete the default text input field, and insert a 'Drop down' control from the Insert menu.
In the left-hand navigation pane, click the 'Data' icon, select 'Add data', search for SharePoint, and establish a connection to the specific SharePoint list (e.g., 'Professions') that contains your desired options.
Select the newly inserted drop-down control. In the top formula bar, set the 'Items' property to the exact name of your SharePoint list data source (e.g., 'Professions').
With the drop-down still selected, look at the Properties pane on the right side. Change the 'Value' dropdown to the specific column from your SharePoint list that you want users to see (usually the 'Title' column).
Select the entire data card (not just the drop-down). In the formula bar, change its 'Update' property so that it captures the selected value from your new control, typically written as Dropdown1.Selected.Title (replace Dropdown1 with your actual control name).
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I filter the SharePoint list choices shown in the Power Apps drop-down?
Yes. Instead of just entering the SharePoint list name in the Items property, use the Filter function. For example, typing Filter(Professions, IsActive = true) will only display options from the 'Professions' list where the 'IsActive' column is true.
Why is my drop-down showing 'Blank' instead of the SharePoint values?
This commonly happens if the 'Value' property in the right-hand Properties pane is pointing to an empty or unsupported column. Ensure the 'Value' field is set to a valid text column from your SharePoint list, such as 'Title'.
How do I make the drop-down searchable for users?
The standard Drop down control does not support searching. If your SharePoint list is long and you want a searchable input, you should insert a 'Combo box' control instead of a Drop down control, and ensure the 'IsSearchable' property is set to true.
