5 SharePoint + Power Apps Features You Should Be Using (But Probably Aren’t)

If you’ve been around the Power Platform for even a minute, you know SharePoint is one of the most common data sources for Power Apps. It’s everywhere. But here’s the thing: most makers are only scratching the surface. You might know that you can build a canvas app on top of a SharePoint list, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

In this article, you’ll learn five different ways SharePoint and Power Apps work together, some simple, some advanced, that can dramatically improve your apps and your SharePoint experience. Whether you’re customizing list forms, embedding apps directly into SharePoint pages, or experimenting with Dataverse virtual tables, you’ll walk away with new tricks to put into action.

And of course, if you prefer to watch than read, there is a full YouTube video SharePoint and Power Apps are better together. Sometimes those demos are better in action, than in stills.

Why Power Apps and SharePoint Work So Well Together

SharePoint has been the backbone of collaboration and content management in Microsoft 365 for years; heck I started with it in 2003 😲. Power Apps gives you the ability to turn that data into apps without writing code.

Together, they create a supercharged combo:

• Familiar data storage in SharePoint (lists, libraries, permissions).

• Custom user interfaces and automation with Power Apps.

• Seamless integration into Teams, Outlook, Copilot, and the rest of Microsoft 365.

And not only is the combo also but it is popular. My back of the napkin math says that the most popular data source for Power Apps is SharePoint. I have no proof but... I have been doing this since day one and I feel pretty good about my assessment.

Now let’s break down the 5 integrations every maker should know.

1 - Customize SharePoint List Forms with Power Apps

First lets talk about using Power Apps to make the SharePoint browser experience better. By default, SharePoint list forms are basic. They work, but they’re not exactly exciting. With Power Apps, you can turn those forms into customized, interactive apps.

What you can do:

• Add multiple screens (like a step-by-step wizard).

• Embed a Power BI dashboard right into the form.

• Add any of the 1,500+ Power Platform connectors to do things like

  • Trigger Outlook emails

  • Teams notifications

  • Pull in other data sources

• Use conditional formatting, logic, and dynamic controls.

Step-by-step:

1. Open your SharePoint list.

2. Go to Integrate > Power Apps > Customize forms.

3. Power Apps will open a pre-built form tied to your list.

4. Use the Power Apps designer to customize it however you want.

5. Publish back to SharePoint.

Pro tips:

• Don’t overdo it, heavily customized forms can get fragile.

• Permissions are controlled by SharePoint, not Power Apps.

• You can’t export these forms to other lists or environments.

2 - Embed Power Apps in SharePoint Pages

Sometimes you want to add a Power Apps app to a SharePoint page. This keeps users inside SharePoint by embedding apps right on your intranet pages. Less clicking and less tabs equals less likely they get lost or distracted.

How it works:

1. Edit a modern SharePoint page.

2. Add a new web part and search for Power Apps.

3. Paste in the app URL.

4. Resize and position the app for a natural fit.

Bonus tip: If you don't mind extra tabs, instead of embedding, use the button web part to link users directly to an app. It keeps the page clean but makes apps one click away.

3. Store Files in SharePoint Document Libraries

Here’s a big one: when your app needs to handle files, always choose SharePoint document libraries, not list attachments. In my humble opinion, SharePoint is the literal best place to store a file to be used interactively for Power Apps.

Why? Because users get:

• Inline previews and thumbnails (images, PDFs, Office docs).

• The ability to edit files directly in the browser.

• Automatic versioning and co-authoring.

How to connect in Power Apps:

1. In Power Apps, click Add data.

2. Select SharePoint.

3. Choose your site and document library.

4. Build galleries or forms to interact with the files.

4. Use SharePoint Lists as a Data Source

This one’s the classic: SharePoint lists as your app’s backend. It’s simple, effective, and included in most Microsoft 365 licenses. You already knew this one but I felt obligated to include it anyway.

Why it works well:

• SharePoint lists act like tables.

• Permissions are already baked in.

• It’s cost-effective compared to Dataverse.

But…

• You’ll hit delegation limits if your data grows too big.

• It’s not meant to be an enterprise-scale database.

5. Explore Virtual Tables with Dataverse

Sometimes we want to do crazy, over the top things. If your company is building in Dataverse and sometimes you wished you could pull in SharePoint, you can. Dataverse supports virtual tables that can connect directly to SharePoint lists.

This lets you:

• Build model-driven apps or Power Pages without migrating the data.

• Combine SharePoint data with other Dataverse tables.

Things to watch out for:

• Not all SharePoint column types are supported.

• Errors are common—it takes testing and patience.

• Licensing costs are the same as Dataverse, so often it’s smarter to migrate.

• There is a lot of gotchas, and rarely are the best answer.

Recap: SharePoint + Power Apps = Better Together

To sum it up, here are five ways SharePoint and Power Apps work hand-in-hand:

1. Customize list forms.

2. Embed apps in pages.

3. Store files in document libraries.

4. Use lists as data sources.

5. Experiment with Dataverse virtual tables.

Each option opens up new opportunities for your apps and your business processes.

Next Steps

Want to take these ideas further? At PowerApps911 we specialize in helping organizations like yours:

• Build custom Power Apps that solve real business problems.

• Train your team through Power Apps training and mentoring programs.

• Support you in using not just SharePoint and Power Apps, but also Power Automate, Power BI, and Microsoft Copilot.

If we can do anything to help just click the Contact Us button in the top right corner and we are here for you.