Forum Discussion
Document libraries - Force users to upload content via the new Forms method only
Hi,
Recently a new form input system that uses Forms has been deployed for Sharepoint document libraries.
This works well, however I was expecting to also have the possibility to disable the standard "upload" button and completely substitute it with the new Form function.
This is because I have created a flow that expects some metadata along with the file, to be filled by the user at the time of insertion of the element, and this is not possible to do with the old upload method as a one-shot action.
I can circumvent the problem by adding additional checks in my flow, however I think this is suboptimal, as this means it needs to run twice in the best case scenario (first for the upload, then for the metadata update).
Is it something I can expect to be implement at some time in the near future?
Microsoft’s new Forms‑based upload experience for document libraries is designed as an additional way to collect files with metadata, not as a replacement for the classic Upload button.
AFAIK: As of now, Microsoft has not announced any plan to disable or replace the standard Upload button. The classic Upload button remains a core, non‑removable part of the document library UI.
Although you cannot disable Upload using out‑of‑the‑box settings, you can hide it using JSON command bar customization
This is the only supported workaround. You can apply JSON formatting to a library view to hide specific built‑in commands.
Example JSON to hide New + Upload:
{ "$schema": "https://developer.microsoft.com/json-schemas/sp/v2/row-formatting.schema.json", "commandBarProps": { "commands": [ { "key": "newComposite", "hide": true }, { "key": "UploadCommand", "hide": true } ] } }Important notes:
- This must be applied per view
- If you want the entire library locked down, apply it to all views
- Users with Manage Lists permission can still edit/remove the JSON
- This does not remove the Upload capability from APIs or sync clients
- If a user has the ability to edit list settings or create a new view, they can still see the New button in their personal view or any new view where the JSON formatting is not applied.
If my post solved your issue or answered your query, please mark it as a Solution and give it a Like.
3 Replies
Microsoft’s new Forms‑based upload experience for document libraries is designed as an additional way to collect files with metadata, not as a replacement for the classic Upload button.
AFAIK: As of now, Microsoft has not announced any plan to disable or replace the standard Upload button. The classic Upload button remains a core, non‑removable part of the document library UI.
Although you cannot disable Upload using out‑of‑the‑box settings, you can hide it using JSON command bar customization
This is the only supported workaround. You can apply JSON formatting to a library view to hide specific built‑in commands.
Example JSON to hide New + Upload:
{ "$schema": "https://developer.microsoft.com/json-schemas/sp/v2/row-formatting.schema.json", "commandBarProps": { "commands": [ { "key": "newComposite", "hide": true }, { "key": "UploadCommand", "hide": true } ] } }Important notes:
- This must be applied per view
- If you want the entire library locked down, apply it to all views
- Users with Manage Lists permission can still edit/remove the JSON
- This does not remove the Upload capability from APIs or sync clients
- If a user has the ability to edit list settings or create a new view, they can still see the New button in their personal view or any new view where the JSON formatting is not applied.
If my post solved your issue or answered your query, please mark it as a Solution and give it a Like.
Thanks for the answer. I'm marking as solved, even though I hope they will at least offer a way to add a secondary upload button or something similar to the toolbar, so that this new upload method would feel more integrated to the current system.
In SharePoint document libraries, you can force users to upload content only by using the “New” form (metadata form) instead of dragging and dropping files.
To do this, go to the document library settings. Open “Advanced settings” and find the option called “Quick Edit” or “Grid view.” Disable this option so users cannot use bulk or grid-style uploads.
Then, make sure required columns (metadata fields) are set as “Required.” When users click “New” and upload a file through the form, SharePoint will force them to fill in these required fields before the file can be saved.
You can also customize the library view or use permissions so that users only see the “New” button and not the upload or drag-and-drop area. With these settings, users are guided to always use the New form and complete the required information before adding content.
