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How to Search SharePoint Choice Columns in a Power Apps Gallery

Amos Gikunda Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to implement a working search and filter function for a Power Apps gallery connected to SharePoint Choice columns.

How to Search SharePoint Choice Columns in a Power Apps Gallery

Product: Power Apps, SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Filtering a Power Apps gallery connected to a SharePoint list using a text input field against Choice columns like Stream, Zone, and KPI Name.
Observed behavior: Using the StartsWith function fails, and using the Search function causes the gallery details to completely disappear because Choice fields return records instead of text strings.

Before you start

Verify the exact internal names of your SharePoint Choice columns and ensure you have edit permissions for the canvas app in Power Apps.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Filter and StartsWith Functions with the Value Property

Fix the search functionality by explicitly referencing the text value inside the Choice column's record using the '.Value' property.

In Power Apps, SharePoint Choice fields do not return simple text strings; they return a record containing multiple properties. Because standard text functions cannot process records directly, searching them causes the gallery to empty.

To resolve this, you must append '.Value' to your column names in the formula to tell Power Apps to evaluate the text contained within the choice.

Select the target Gallery

Open your canvas app in Power Apps Studio, navigate to your screen, and select the Gallery control you wish to filter.

Locate the Items property

In the properties dropdown at the top left of the formula bar, select the 'Items' property.

Update the filtering formula

Replace the existing code with a Filter formula using StartsWith and the .Value property. For example: Filter(ListName, StartsWith(Stream.Value, SearchBox.Text) || StartsWith(Zone.Value, SearchBox.Text) || StartsWith('KPI Name'.Value, SearchBox.Text))

Test the application

Hold the Alt key (or click the Play button) and type a test query into your search box to ensure the gallery updates correctly without going blank.

Use the Filter and StartsWith Functions with the Value Property

Watch for Delegation Warnings: Depending on your setup, searching complex SharePoint Choice columns might trigger a yellow delegation warning. This means Power Apps will only process the first 500 to 2,000 records locally.

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Analyze Exported SharePoint Data Easily with WPS Office

While Power Apps is excellent for custom interfaces, complex data analysis often requires exporting SharePoint lists to a spreadsheet. WPS Office provides a free, highly compatible, and lightweight suite to seamlessly open, analyze, and report on your exported Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) files.

1. Export your SharePoint List: Navigate to your SharePoint list in the browser and click the 'Export to Excel' option in the command bar.
2. Open with WPS Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office on your computer and open the newly downloaded spreadsheet file.
3. Analyze the Choice Columns: Use WPS Spreadsheets' built-in filters, sorting, and pivot table features to deeply analyze the choice values and other metadata.

100% compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) files exported from SharePoint lists.Lightweight installation that runs smoothly on almost any device.Familiar spreadsheet interface so you can start analyzing data immediately.Free access to advanced tools like pivot tables, complex formulas, and data filtering.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Search function cause my Power Apps gallery to disappear?

The standard Power Apps Search function is designed to look through text columns. Because SharePoint Choice columns return records instead of raw text, the mismatch causes the function to fail and the gallery to return empty. Using Filter combined with StartsWith and the .Value property is the proper workaround.

How do I search a SharePoint Lookup column in Power Apps?

Similar to Choice columns, Lookup columns return a complex record. You must reference the specific underlying field by appending the property name (usually '.Value' or '.Id') to your column reference in the Filter formula.

Can I increase the delegation limit for complex queries in Power Apps?

Yes, you can increase the local data row limit for non-delegable queries from the default 500 up to a maximum of 2,000. Go to Settings > General in Power Apps Studio and adjust the 'Data row limit' slider. However, for datasets larger than 2,000 records, you will need to restructure your query or data source.

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