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How to Duplicate Recurring Microsoft Lists Items with Power Automate

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs a Power Automate flow that identifies recurring items in a Microsoft Lists planner and automatically creates duplicated items with adjusted start and end dates while preserving the original entries.

Product: Microsoft Lists and Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Automating the duplication and date adjustment of recurring list items for project planning or event tracking.
Observed behavior: The goal is to automatically generate new list items for subsequent recurring periods without overwriting or deleting the original planner items.

Before you start

Ensure you have edit permissions for the target Microsoft List and the necessary Microsoft 365 licensing to create scheduled or automated flows in Power Automate.

Solution 1Recommended

Build a Scheduled Flow in Power Automate

Use a recurrence trigger and date calculation functions to automatically fetch, adjust, and duplicate recurring list items.

To duplicate recurring items without overwriting them, the flow must extract the data from the original item, calculate the new dates based on the recurrence interval, and explicitly create a new item in the list.

Set up a Recurrence Trigger

Log in to Power Automate and create a new 'Scheduled cloud flow'. Set the recurrence trigger to run daily or at your preferred interval to check for upcoming recurring items.

Get Items from Microsoft Lists

Add the 'Get items' action. Select your SharePoint site address and choose the specific Microsoft List that contains your planner items.

Apply Conditions for Recurrence

Add a 'Condition' block to filter the fetched items. Set the condition to check if the recurrence column equals your specific triggers, such as 'Repeat Annually' or 'Repeat Monthly'.

Calculate New Dates

For items that match the condition, use the `addToTime()` expression function to calculate the new start and end dates based on the recurrence interval (e.g., adding 1 month or 1 year to the original dates).

Create a New Item

Add the 'Create item' action. Map the newly calculated dates to the appropriate date fields and copy the remaining dynamic content from the original item to generate the duplicate.

Use Create Item: Always use the 'Create item' action rather than the 'Update item' action to ensure the original entry is fully preserved in your list.

Solution 2

Consult the Power Platform Community

If you encounter complex date calculation errors or issues with dynamic content mapping, reach out to the official community for advanced support.

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While Power Automate handles complex automated workflows, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative for managing tasks, spreadsheets, and project planners without complex technical configurations.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package tailored for your operating system.
2. Install and Set Up: Run the installer. The process takes only a few minutes, after which you can immediately access the main dashboard.
3. Open Existing Trackers: Open your exported Microsoft Excel or CSV planner lists directly in WPS Spreadsheet with all formatting and formulas preserved.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx), Word (.docx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) formats.Free and lightweight office suite with a familiar, intuitive user interface.Built-in spreadsheet templates that make task tracking and planner management effortless.Seamless migration from Microsoft Office ecosystem with zero learning curve.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Power Automate flow update the original item instead of duplicating it?

This happens if you use the 'Update item' action. To duplicate an entry, ensure you are using the 'Create item' action and filling its fields with the dynamic content from the original item.

How do I add exactly one month to a date in a Power Automate flow?

You can use the addToTime() function in the expression builder. For example, the expression addToTime(triggerOutputs()?['body/StartDate'], 1, 'Month') will accurately add one month to the designated start date.

Where can I get specialized support for advanced Power Automate expressions?

Advanced flow design and troubleshooting fall outside standard Microsoft support scope. It is highly recommended to post your queries in the Microsoft Power Platform Community forums, where specialists can provide detailed guidance on date calculations.

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