Rename folder in big library sharepoint online

Question

Rename folder in big library sharepoint online

Elmata 136

Hello,
Someone know how can I edit/rename a folder when my list or library contains more than 5000 elements ?
I tried a lot of possibilities but nothing fixes it.
Best regards,
Elmata

Praneeth Madushanka Gunarathna Liyana Badalge 80 Reputation points

2023-10-19T04:41:05.19+00:00

Editing or renaming a folder in a SharePoint list or library with more than 5000 elements can be challenging due to the default view threshold limit. When dealing with large datasets in SharePoint, Microsoft imposes a limit to ensure performance. However, there are several workarounds you can try:

Indexing Columns

To overcome the threshold, you can index columns that you frequently filter or sort by. This can make your views more efficient. To do this, go to your list/library settings, click on "Indexed columns," and choose the relevant columns.

Metadata Navigation

Enable metadata navigation and filtering in your library settings. This allows you to navigate your content based on metadata rather than folders.

Filtered Views

Create filtered views that limit the number of items displayed in a view. This can help you work with subsets of your data. Ensure you filter by indexed columns.

Paging: You can use the paging feature to navigate through large lists. Change the items displayed per page to a lower number, and you can work through your data more efficiently.

Use SharePoint Designer

If you have access to SharePoint Designer, you can try to edit or rename the folder from there. It might be less restricted by view threshold limits.

PowerShell Script

If you have access and permissions to run PowerShell scripts on your SharePoint environment, you can use scripts to rename folders.

Microsoft Flow or Power Automate

You can create a flow in Power Automate (formerly known as Microsoft Flow) to rename a folder in SharePoint. This can be triggered automatically or manually.

Bypass the List View Threshold

Only attempt this if you have advanced knowledge and permissions. It involves changing the list view threshold settings at the site collection level, but this may impact performance and is not recommended unless you understand the implications fully.

Remember to exercise caution when making changes to SharePoint settings, especially in large environments. It's recommended to test any changes in a development or test environment before implementing them in a production environment. Additionally, consider contacting your SharePoint administrator or IT support for assistance if you're unsure about any specific actions or if you lack the necessary permissions.

5 answers

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Answer 1

Hi @Elmata ,

To understand your issue better, could you share with me what error messages or scenarios you encountered while renaming the folder and what possibilities you have tried?

If your issue is caused by 5000 items list/library view threshold and you are using modern library, Please try the solutions listed in this article to manage your large library: Manage large lists and libraries

If you are using classic library in SharePoint Online, you can try the following method:
Access your problem library via IE -> Click “Open with explorer” in the ribbon -> rename the folder in the File Explorer:

If the issue still exists, please try the following PnP PowerShell to rename the folder:

#Config Variables  
$SiteURL = "https://<TenantName>.sharepoint.com/sites/<SiteName>"  
$FolderURL= "<LibraryName>/<FolderOldName>" #Site Relative URL  
$FolderNewName ="<FolderNewName>"  
   
#Connect to PnP Online  
Connect-PnPOnline -Url $SiteURL -Credentials (Get-Credential)  
   
#Rename the Folder  
Rename-PnPFolder -Folder $FolderURL -TargetFolderName $FolderNewName

I hope this information has been useful, please let me know if you still need assistance.

If an Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
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Allen Xu_MSFT 13,866 Reputation points

2020-11-27T07:22:57.163+00:00

@Elmata ,

Do you have any update on this iusse?

If an answer helps you, please remember to accept it as answer via the "Accept Answer" button. :-)
Elmata 136 Reputation points

2020-12-01T18:43:20+00:00

Hi and sorry for the delay. I was very busied and this issue was deprioritized.
I tried with sharegate, explorer/filer, browser, I can't rename it, nothing works.
I don't know PnP, how can I use it ?
Regards,
EM

Answer 2

Ali Choudhry 1

Did you try setting up a view with filters that would restrict the returned items to less than 5k and edit the folder name?

Answer 3

Emily Willard 1

This is my first time participating in a tech-related chat and I don't have an answer. But I do have the exact issue mentioned above.

I want to change the name of a folder in SharePoint and have tried using the desktop app and using a Chrome browser. When I try to rename I get the following messages:

"You can't rename this folder because there are too many items in the folder"

Are there any other ways to make this change?

Gary Singh 6 Reputation points

2022-11-30T06:15:01.84+00:00

Hi Emily, did you any solution of your problem. We are also experiencing the same problem.
MOD Administrator 0 Reputation points

2023-03-01T17:36:27.8533333+00:00

you cant rename this folder due to too many items in the folder

Answer 4

Richard Boyd 1

Create a new folder with the name you want. Move the contents of the folder with the name you don't want. Delete the now empty folder.

Answer 5

Alessandro Nardoni 1

Hello!

I am having the same issue - I cannot rename a folder because it contains to many items

Similarly, I cannot delete this folder because it's too big.

I am wondering why not allowing users to do such simple actions - they actually become a big issue, not being able to perform such actions .

Regards,
Alessandro

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