In SharePoint Online, columns (also known as fields) help organize and store data within lists. Using PnP PowerShell, you can efficiently add columns to a SharePoint list, making it easier to manage structured data.
This guide covers:
How to connect to SharePoint Online
How to add different column types to a SharePoint list
How to set column properties such as required, indexed, and default values
Prerequisites
Before adding columns, ensure:
You have SharePoint Admin or Site Owner permissions.
You have PnP PowerShell installed.
You know the SharePoint site URL and list name where you want to add columns.
Step 1: Install and Import PnP PowerShell
If you haven’t installed PnP PowerShell, install it using:
Install-Module -Name PnP.PowerShell -Scope CurrentUser -AllowClobber -Force
Then, import the module:
Import-Module PnP.PowerShell
PnP PowerShell is ready!
Step 2: Connect to SharePoint Online
To add a column, first, connect to the SharePoint site:
# Connect to SharePoint Online
Connect-PnPOnline -Url "https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/yoursite" -Interactive
🔹 Replace "yourtenant" with your tenant name.
🔹 Replace "yoursite" with the site name where the list exists.
Connected successfully!
Step 3: Add a Column to a SharePoint List
To add a column, use the Add-PnPField command.
1️⃣ Add a Text Column
# Add a single-line text column
Add-PnPField -List "Employee Directory" -DisplayName "Employee ID" -InternalName "EmployeeID" -Type Text
🔹 "Employee Directory" → The list name
🔹 "Employee ID" → Column name (as displayed)
🔹 "EmployeeID" → Internal name used in queries
🔹 -Type Text → Single-line text column
Column added successfully!
2️⃣ Add a Number Column
# Add a number column
Add-PnPField -List "Employee Directory" -DisplayName "Salary" -InternalName "Salary" -Type Number
Stores numeric values
3️⃣ Add a Choice Column
# Add a choice column with predefined values
Add-PnPField -List "Employee Directory" -DisplayName "Department" -InternalName "Department" -Type Choice -AddToDefaultView -Choices "HR", "IT", "Finance", "Marketing"
🔹 -Choices → Defines available options
🔹 -AddToDefaultView → Adds column to the default view
Allows users to pick from predefined values
4️⃣ Add a Date Column
# Add a date column
Add-PnPField -List "Employee Directory" -DisplayName "Joining Date" -InternalName "JoiningDate" -Type DateTime
Stores date values
5️⃣ Add a Yes/No (Boolean) Column
# Add a Yes/No column
Add-PnPField -List "Employee Directory" -DisplayName "Active Employee" -InternalName "ActiveEmployee" -Type Boolean
Stores TRUE/FALSE values
6️⃣ Add a Lookup Column
# Add a lookup column referencing another list
Add-PnPField -List "Employee Directory" -DisplayName "Manager" -InternalName "Manager" -Type Lookup -LookupList "Managers" -LookupField "FullName"
🔹 -LookupList → The referenced list
🔹 -LookupField → The field to pull data from
Links data from another list
7️⃣ Add a Person or Group Column
# Add a person column
Add-PnPField -List "Employee Directory" -DisplayName "Assigned To" -InternalName "AssignedTo" -Type User
Stores users/groups from Azure AD
Step 4: Verify the Column
After adding the column, verify it using:
# Get all columns in the list
Get-PnPField -List "Employee Directory" | Select Title, InternalName, TypeAsString
This lists all columns in the SharePoint list.
Step 5: Set Column Properties (Optional)
Make a Column Required
# Set a column as required
Set-PnPField -List "Employee Directory" -Identity "EmployeeID" -Required $true
Users must fill this column
Enable Column Indexing
# Enable indexing for better performance
Set-PnPField -List "Employee Directory" -Identity "EmployeeID" -Indexed $true
Speeds up search queries
Set a Default Value
# Set a default value for a column
Set-PnPField -List "Employee Directory" -Identity "Department" -DefaultValue "IT"
New items will have “IT” as default
Step 6: Remove a Column (If Needed)
To delete a column:
# Remove a column
Remove-PnPField -List "Employee Directory" -Identity "Department" -Force
Column deleted permanently!
Common Errors & Troubleshooting
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
Access Denied | You don’t have Admin or Site Owner permissions | Ensure you have the right permissions |
The term 'Add-PnPField' is not recognized | PnP PowerShell is not installed | Run Import-Module PnP.PowerShell |
Cannot find list with identity 'Employee Directory' | The list does not exist | Verify list name using Get-PnPList before adding columns |