Microsoft Lists - how to move?

Brass Contributor
Is there a way to move a List, e.g. from my personal space to an Office365 Group? There does not seem to be a way to do this other than using workaround of export & import to Excel.
 
However, if I click "Export to Excel" from Lists, all I get is a file called query.iqy. Does anybody else experience this issue?
27 Replies

Same isue here. Anyone?

I have this same problem.

@NardKlaass 

@kristinholm From what I understand it is possible to copy lists between SP-sites. However if you've made a list in your own work space you're out of luck. Moving/copying isn't possible then.

 

I've recreated the list in a SP-site.

@Andre Siregar 
It seems that you can download the lists as indicated in this post SharePoint lists - How to move them from one site to another - Microsoft Community, but it is unclear to me how you can upload them again to the SharePoint site. What is your Excel workaround?

As previously mentioned the 'Export to Excel' seems the only option.

 

For anyone else, this is how I did it

 

1. In Microsoft Lists export to Excel (it will be an .iqy file extension)

In Microsoft Lists Export to ExcelIn Microsoft Lists Export to Excel

 

 

2. In Sharepoint site page click new list

In Sharepoint site page click new listIn Sharepoint site page click new list

 

 

3. Upload your excel file 

Create a new list from excel (and upload your excel file)Create a new list from excel (and upload your excel file)

 

To finish

Check the column types and choose a new type if the current selection is incorrect.

Check the column typesCheck the column types

 

-----

 

I hope this helps

 

@bryandibben I followed your recommendation however when I tried to import the excel file I received the following error message. Help is much appreciated.

KatjavK_0-1647079983702.png

 

I think problem with Excel export and import is that it will not Export the comments so its not complete solution.
When you do the Export to Excel option, it saves it as a .csv
Before you add it to MS Lists, you'll need to:
- Format the data as a table with headers (open CSV, highlight data, click 'Format as Table' and select 'My table has headers)
- Save as .xls

Create the new list from your .xls file. You'll be prompted to match up the field types

@HelloBenTeoh 

You save your datas in excel and you can import them in a new list, but you loose all the column settings, isn't it?
I've a big list in 'My List' I would like to move it to a sharepoint site.

In this list the Columns have different settings and different format. If I use excel to keep the datas I loose the columns setting and format if I use the existing list to create the new one I keep the columns setting and format but loose the datas....

Do you have a solution to keep the both, column setting&format AND all the datas?

Thank you 

@Andre Siregar 

Garbage program that ties one into MS365 forever (unlike excel files).   One can work via export for simple files but when one has attached a pile of documents to the list as the program is intended, there is no way to move to a non-sharepoint site (i.e one's personal harddrive) etc.  Very frustrating and lack of disclosure.

 

I'd like this as well. User created a list, we want to move it to SP. There are several Choice columns, and they get messed up when importing.

An option is to use Power Automate to migrate your data across. This is a basic run down of what you need to do.

Note: For some fields (e.g. multi choice drop downs etc, images etc) you'll need to add some extra functionality in but this should get you started.

 

Step 1: Create your new list, based on your original list

This will replicate the columns for you.

 

In Microsoft Lists

  • Select New list
  • Select From existing list
  • Select My lists in the "Select a team or site" column
  • Select the list you want to copy
  • Select Next
  • Enter the name, description, color and icon of the new list. (If you want to use the same name, it will initially have an error saying "List already exist")
  • In the 'Save to' dropdown, select the location for your new list (once changed, the error will disappear)

Step 2: Set up your flow in Power Automate

  • Select Create
  • Select Manually trigger a flow
  • Add the action Get Items (SharePoint)
  • Add the action Create Item (SharePoint) - this will also create an Apply to each action for you
    • For Site Address, select the site of the new list
    • For List name, select the new list
    • For each of the fields, select the matching field in the list that pops up under Get Items
  • Save and test!

 

Thanks. As someone not familiar with Power automate, I think this proves why Lists is not a software that I would recommend anyone use. I can essentially get a similar function using Excel - which is far easier to move files. Microsoft needs to figure this out for sure !!
Thank you! (Had a couple of columns that claimed to be read-only, and pictures didn't come, but MUCH better than totally recreating the list. Thank you very much!
Did your list contain uploaded attachments?
No, links, as it turns out.

Hi @jb_r3d 
When I need to upload a list to SPO from an excel spreadsheet, I use the 'Export to SharePoint' feature in Excel. Here's how:

  • Download the list and open it in Excel.
  • Select the entire table.
  • Click the 'Table Design' tab.
  • In the Export section of the tab, select 'Export Table to SharePoint'
  • Enter a name for your list and provide the URL of the SPO site contents you want to send the list to.

If you don't have the Export section in the Table properties yet, you'll need to customise your Excel ribbon. This information from Microsoft should help with that. Video: Customize the ribbon - Microsoft Support

This is the best solutions I've found so far, I hope it helps you too.

@M365Specialist , if the list has any customization like controlling when a field is hidden or shown, with your process you'll lose it, all custom's will be gone.

 

This is mentioned above many times.

 

But thanks anyway.

@HelloBenTeoh 

If using the Power Automate solution, will my custom forms/power apps, and flows move with the list?