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How to Set Default SharePoint List View Instead of Grid View from Excel

Amos Gikunda Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to change the default view of a SharePoint list exported from Excel so it opens in a standard view instead of Grid view, and wants to prevent Excel column names from converting to generic internal names like field_1.

How to Set Default SharePoint List View Instead of Grid View from Excel

Product: Microsoft Excel and SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Exporting an Excel table directly into a new SharePoint list.
Observed behavior: The newly created SharePoint list automatically opens in Grid view, and the exported column headers are assigned generic internal names such as field_1 and field_2.

Before you start

Ensure you have owner or edit permissions for the target SharePoint site so you can modify list views and manage column settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Change the Default View Settings in SharePoint

Manually update your newly exported SharePoint list so that it defaults to a standard list view rather than Grid view.

When you export a table directly from Excel to SharePoint, the system defaults to Grid view to mimic the spreadsheet experience. You can override this by selecting or creating a standard view and setting it as the new default.

Open your SharePoint List

Navigate to your SharePoint site and open the specific list that was recently created from your Excel export.

Access the View Dropdown

Look at the top right corner of the list command bar and click on the current view name dropdown, which is typically labeled 'Grid view' or 'All Items'.

Select a Standard View

From the dropdown menu, select a standard view layout (like 'List') if available, or click 'Create new view' to design a standard layout without the grid editing feature enabled.

Set as Default

Click the view dropdown menu one more time, scroll down to the bottom of the options, and select 'Set current view as default' to ensure the list always opens in this format.

Change the Default View Settings in SharePoint

Solution 2

Pre-create Columns and Import Data using Power Automate

Avoid generic internal column names (like field_1) by manually creating the SharePoint list first and importing the Excel data using Power Automate.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Excel export default to Grid view in SharePoint?

When you use the 'Export Table to SharePoint List' feature natively in Excel, SharePoint automatically sets the new list to Grid view to provide a seamless transition and mimic the continuous data entry experience of a spreadsheet.

Can I change the internal column names in a SharePoint list after it is created?

No. Once a column is created in SharePoint, its internal name is permanently locked. Using the 'Rename' option in column settings only modifies the display name, which is why creating columns manually before importing data is recommended for better database management.

How do I rename the default 'Title' column in SharePoint?

You can change the display name of the 'Title' column by clicking its column header, selecting 'Column settings', and clicking 'Rename'. Keep in mind that while it may display as your new name (e.g., 'Project Name'), the system's internal name will permanently remain 'Title'.

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