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How to Save Microsoft Forms Photo Uploads to a Microsoft List

Muhammad Talha Sep 29, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to use Power Automate to add uploaded Microsoft Forms photos directly to Microsoft List items, bypassing the need for a document library as an intermediate storage location.

Save Microsoft Forms Photo Uploads to a Microsoft List via Power Automate

Product: Microsoft Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Building an automated workflow to transfer photo uploads from Forms directly into List items.
Observed behavior: The user needs to retrieve files from where Forms natively stores them (SharePoint/OneDrive) and attach or display them directly in a List item.

Before you start

Ensure you have owner permissions for the Microsoft Form and the target Microsoft List, along with an active Power Automate license to create automated cloud flows.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Power Automate to Attach Forms Uploads to Microsoft Lists

Retrieve the uploaded file from its default storage location (OneDrive or SharePoint) and attach it directly to the corresponding Microsoft List item.

Although Microsoft Forms stores file uploads in SharePoint or OneDrive for Business by default, Power Automate can fetch this file content and attach it directly to your Microsoft List item, bypassing the need for a separate document library step.

Create a New Automated Cloud Flow

Open Power Automate, create a new automated cloud flow, and set the trigger to 'When a new response is submitted'. Select your specific Microsoft Form from the dropdown.

Get Response Details

Add the 'Get response details' action. Provide the Form ID and map the Response ID from the dynamic content of the trigger.

Parse the JSON (For Multiple Files)

Because Forms outputs file uploads as an array, add a 'Parse JSON' action or an 'Apply to each' loop to handle the array of uploaded file objects so you can extract their identifiers.

Get File Content

Add the 'Get file content' action. Use the OneDrive connector for personal forms or the SharePoint connector for group-owned forms, mapping it to the file identifier obtained in the previous step.

Create or Update List Item

Add the 'Create item' action for SharePoint/Microsoft Lists to generate the new record, populating the necessary text fields based on the form response.

Add Attachment

Add the 'Add attachment' action. Link it to the newly created List Item ID, and map the File Name and File Content from the dynamic variables.

Use Power Automate to Attach Forms Uploads to Microsoft Lists

Image Column vs. Attachment: If you want the photo to display directly in the list view, format the target column as an 'Image' column. If you just need the file stored, use the standard list attachment feature.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where do Microsoft Forms file uploads go by default?

Personal forms save files to OneDrive for Business in the 'Apps > Microsoft Forms' folder. Group-owned forms save them to the corresponding SharePoint team site's default document library.

Can I display the uploaded Forms photo directly in the List view?

Yes, you can create an 'Image' column in your Microsoft List and configure your Power Automate flow to update that specific column rather than just adding it as a hidden attachment.

Why is my 'Get file content' action failing in Power Automate?

This usually happens if you are using the OneDrive action for a Group-owned form, or vice-versa. Ensure you are using the correct SharePoint or OneDrive connector based on where the Form was originally created.

How do I handle multiple photo uploads in Power Automate?

When a form allows multiple files, the response is an array. You must use an 'Apply to each' loop in your flow to iterate through the array, get each file's content, and attach them sequentially to the List item.

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