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How to Rename Multiple Microsoft Forms Uploads with Power Automate

Amos Gikunda Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to automatically rename multiple files uploaded through Microsoft Forms using a serial number and a unique suffix via Power Automate.

Renaming Multiple Microsoft Forms Uploads with Power Automate

Product: Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Standardizing file names for photos, audio files, and videos uploaded via a form submission to improve organization.
Observed behavior: The workflow needs to dynamically generate new file names with suffixes like (1), (2), or (3) while successfully retaining the original file extensions.

Before you start

Ensure you have an active Microsoft 365 license with access to both Microsoft Forms and Power Automate, and verify that your form is configured to accept file uploads.

Solution 1Recommended

Build a File Renaming Workflow in Power Automate

Use built-in Power Automate expressions and loops to retrieve form responses, iterate through uploaded attachments, and apply standardized names with suffixes.

Because Microsoft Forms handles multiple file uploads as a JSON array, you need to parse this array in Power Automate to extract the file metadata before generating new files in OneDrive or SharePoint.

Set up the Form Trigger

In Power Automate, create an automated cloud flow. Use the 'When a new response is submitted' trigger and add the 'Get response details' action to retrieve the form submission data.

Parse the Uploaded Files JSON

Add a 'Parse JSON' action. Use the dynamic content of your file upload question as the input. This extracts the names, links, and properties of the uploaded files so Power Automate can read them.

Loop Through the Files

Add an 'Apply to each' control and select the array from the Parse JSON step. Inside the loop, add a 'Get file content' action using the OneDrive or SharePoint path of the uploaded file.

Create the Renamed File

Add a 'Create file' action. For the File Name field, use a Power Automate expression to combine the serial number from your form, an incrementing variable or timestamp for the suffix (e.g., (1), (2)), and the original file extension extracted using the split() expression.

Build a File Renaming Workflow in Power Automate

Expression Complexity: Writing expressions to split extensions and append incrementing suffixes can be complex. Be sure to initialize an integer variable before the loop to handle the (1), (2) counting logic.

Solution 2

Seek Specific Guidance in the Power Automate Community

Since file-handling workflows require specific syntax and robust error handling, the dedicated Microsoft community is the best place to find pre-built expressions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Microsoft Forms uploaded files have random names or user names appended?

By default, Microsoft Forms appends the name of the responder to the uploaded file name. This is done to ensure the file is unique in the storage directory and to help track who submitted which document.

Can I keep the original file extension when renaming files in Power Automate?

Yes. You can use Power Automate expressions such as last(split(item()?['name'], '.')) to dynamically identify and extract the original file extension (like .jpg or .mp4) so it can be appended to your new file name.

Where are Microsoft Forms file uploads actually stored?

If the form was created as a personal form, uploaded files are stored in the Apps > Microsoft Forms folder within the creator's OneDrive for Business. If it is a group form, they are stored in the default SharePoint Document Library associated with that group.

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