How to Insert a Line Break Between SharePoint Fields in Power Automate
Question details
The user needs to format a Power Automate flow output so that two combined SharePoint list fields appear on separate lines instead of a single line.
- Product
- Microsoft Power Automate
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating or modifying a Power Automate flow that retrieves data from multiple SharePoint fields and outputs them into an email, notification, or document.
- Observed behavior
- The flow successfully combines the SharePoint fields, but places them on a single continuous line without the required line break separating the values.
Ensure you have edit access to the Power Automate flow and the connected SharePoint list, and verify whether your flow's final destination (like an email) requires plain text or HTML formatting.
Use a Compose Action to Create a Physical Line Break
The most straightforward method to add a line break in Power Automate is by pressing the Enter key inside a Compose action and referencing that output between your fields.
This method works exceptionally well for plain text outputs and doesn't require complex coding or expressions. By creating a dedicated step that holds a physical return character, you can inject it anywhere in your flow.
Open your Power Automate flow in edit mode. Click 'New step', search for 'Compose', and select the 'Data Operations - Compose' action.
Click inside the 'Inputs' box of the Compose action and press the 'Enter' key on your keyboard to create a single physical line break. Leave it as is.
In your final output step (such as an email body or another Compose action), insert the dynamic content for 'SharePoint Field 1'. Immediately after it, insert the 'Outputs' dynamic content from your line break Compose action, followed by 'SharePoint Field 2'.
Use a URI Component Expression for Line Breaks
If you prefer writing formulas over adding extra flow actions, you can use a native expression designed to insert a newline character.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't the HTML <br> tag working for my line break in Power Automate?
The <br> tag only works if the destination of your data (such as an Outlook 'Send an email' action) is set to accept HTML formatting. If you are outputting to a plain text field or application, the <br> tag will appear as raw text. In plain text scenarios, you must use a physical line break or the decodeUriComponent('%0A') expression.
Can I replace existing commas with line breaks in a SharePoint string field?
Yes. You can use the replace() expression in Power Automate to swap commas for line breaks. The syntax looks like this: replace(variables('YourStringVariable'), ',', decodeUriComponent('%0A')).
Where can I get specialized help with complex Power Automate expressions?
If your scenario involves intricate data arrays or unsupported formats, you can post your complete formula, a screenshot of your flow, and your goal in the official Microsoft Power Automate Community forums. Dedicated engineers and community experts there can provide specific guidance.
