How to Delete a Column in SharePoint Document Library? Mildly

SharePoint sites help organizations streamline their workflows efficiently. Also, SharePoint lists and document libraries simplify data management and enhance the process of data retrieving. Although, SharePoint lists can contain multiple columns to separate data effectively. However, sometimes certain columns in SharePoint document libraries or lists are no longer needed. Therefore, knowing how to delete a column in SharePoint document library is required for eliminating the unnecessary column from SharePoint lists or libraries.

In this article, we will explain how to delete a column from the SharePoint list or library. We will discuss all possible methods so you can choose the best one according to your needs. Now, let’s get started.

Why Do You Remove Unnecessary Columns from SharePoint List?

Having irrelevant and no longer required columns can create several issues for SharePoint performance such as.

• SharePoint performance can be affected if it needs to filter several columns for a user search. As much as the filter stages less, the results will be quicker.
• Because SharePoint offers limited storage, so to optimize it you should remove the unnecessary columns. You can also find large files in SharePoint Online and remove them for better optimization.
• Customizations in SharePoint are also affected by outdated or irrelevant content in the SharePoint document library or lists.
• Not removing the irrelevant columns from SharePoint can misguide the users.

How to Delete a Column in SharePoint Document Library?

There are different approaches to deleting outdated columns from SharePoint. You need to perform the distinct steps as per the SharePoint experience: classic or modern. PowerShell is also a way to remove columns from the SharePoint list or library.

But before going to use the steps, make sure:-

• You have informed the affected users so that they can plan their tasks accordingly.
• Find out that the column is not in use in any view or calculated column.

Now, let’s deep dive into the methods in a detailed manner.

Steps to Delete a Column in SharePoint List Using Classic Experience

If you are using the classic experience, follow the below steps to delete the irrelevant column.

Step 1. Open your SharePoint account.
Step 2. Navigate the list whose column is going to be deleted.
Step 3. Open the settings and then List settings.
Step 4. Move to the Column section and tap on the Column title.
Step 5. In the opened pop-up, click on Delete to delete the column from the list permanently.

How to Delete a Column in SharePoint document library using Modern Experience?

Use the below elaborated steps to eliminate the column from the SharePoint document library or list.

Step 1. Launch your SharePoint account and sign in using the right credentials.
Step 2. Move to the desired SharePoint document library/ list.
Step 3. Tap on the column’s header.
Step 4. Now, click on the Column Settings from the opened screen and then hit Edit.
Step 5. Now, press the Delete button to remove the column from the SharePoint document library.

PowerShell Commands to Remove a Column from SharePoint List/ Library

If you are confident in the PowerShell commands, then you can go with this method.

Add-Type -Path "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\16\ISAPI\Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.dll"
Add-Type -Path "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\16\ISAPI\Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.Runtime.dll"

$Source_SharePoint_Site_URL="Enter here"
$Name_of_List= "My New Projects"
$Name_Column="Projects_Issue_Date"

Try {
$Details = Get-Credential
$All_Credentials = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.SharePointOnlineCredentials($Details.Username, $Details.Password)

$Ctx = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.ClientContext($Source_SharePoint_Site_URL)
$Ctx.Credentials = $All_Credentials

$SP_List = $Ctx.Web.Lists.GetByTitle($Name_of_List)

$Column_to_Delete = $SP_List.Fields.GetByTitle($Name_Column)

$Column_to_Delete.DeleteObject()
$Ctx.ExecuteQuery()

Write-host "Column Deleted Successfully”
}
Catch {
write-host -f Red "Error in Deletion!" $_.Exception.Message
}

Concluded Words

How to delete a column in SharePoint document library or list is a commonly asked query on the Internet. Therefore in this blog, we have targeted all the possible solutions to resolve this query. You can choose the solution according to your needs to remove the unnecessary columns from SharePoint.