The Power of Index Columns in SharePoint Online: Simplify Your Data Management – create step by step

In this “Index columns in SharePoint Online” article, we will learn how to create the indexed column in SharePoint both in SharePoint Online and on-premise, step by step. When we talk about the slowness of SharePoint list view loading, we go with indexing the column.

Introduction – Index columns in SharePoint Online

If you are not clear about what indexing actually is – I would recommend reading my previous article how does the database column indexing work in SharePoint. In this example, I will show how to create an indexed column in the SharePoint List.

SUPPORTED COLUMN TYPES in indexing

• Single line of text
• Choice field (but not multi-choice)
• Number
• Currency
• Date/ Time
• Lookup (but not multi-value)
• Person or Group (but not multi-value)
• Title (but not in a document library)

UNSUPPORTED COLUMN TYPES

• Multiple lines of text
• Hyperlink/Picture
• Custom Field Types
• Calculated Field
• Boolean (yes/no)
• UI version
• Checked out to
• Content type ID

How to create an indexed column in the SharePoint list step by step (Index columns in SharePoint Online)?

Go to the list settings page in which list you want to create an index and click on the “Indexed Columns” link as below:

Then, we will land on the below page – here click on the “Create a new index” link like below:

Then, select the column (referring to the supported columns section) which you want to index from the “Primary column for this index:” drop-down list. As an example I have selected the “Item Name” column and clicked on the “Create” button as below:

Then, come to the “Indexed Columns” page, we can see the “Item Name” indexed column is displayed here – this section was empty just before.

How to create the indexed column automatically thru the list view filter (Index columns in SharePoint)?

If we add any indexed allowed columns(mentioned in the above section) in the SharePoint list view filter that particular column is indexed automatically. Let’s see how this can be done.

Go to the edit mode of the “All Items” view.

Then, from the “Filter” section – apply the filter like below. As an example I have selected the “Quantity” column and applied a filter on it, then click on the “OK” button.

Now, the “Quantity” column will be displayed on the “Indexed Column” page because it is automatically indexed when we have applied a filter to it.

Notes:

Indexes are created automatically in the following two situations:

• When saved views have columns used for sorting or filtering
• When sorting in the modern experience

Here are notes to remember:

Automatic index creation when sorting in the modern experience is limited to lists and libraries with less than 20,000 items.

Keynotes to remember

• In a list maximum, we can create 20 indexed columns.
• In a list maximum, we can create an 8 Lookup type indexed column.

Summary: Index columns in SharePoint Online (Create indexed column in SharePoint)

Hence, in this article, we have learned how to create an indexed column in the SharePoint list.

References: Index columns in SharePoint Online

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/manage-large-lists-and-libraries-in-sharepoint-b8588dae-9387-48c2-9248-c24122f07c59

See Also: SharePoint Online tutorial

You may also like the below SharePoint Online tutorials:

• SharePoint: Show item modified in the past 14 days in list web part
• List view threshold error(5000 items issue) in SharePoint On-Premise/SharePoint Online
• SharePoint – O365 – How does the database column indexing work in SharePoint?
• Office 365: Getting started with SharePoint PnP PowerShell – installation
• In 2 steps convert a classic SharePoint page to modern using PnP
• Office 365: Retrieve hub sites and associated sites using PnP Powershell
• Create a modern team site using PnP PowerShell in SharePoint
• In 4 steps access SharePoint online data using postman tool
• SharePoint admin center: Learn SharePoint online administration in an hour – step by step
• SharePoint REST API: GET vs POST vs PUT vs DELETE vs PATCH
• Office 365: Understanding the hub site in SharePoint online
• What is a Site Column?

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About Post Author

MA Microsoft Techy

I am an Enterprise Architect with 20+ years of experience in Microsoft technologies, specializing in Power Platform, Microsoft 365, governance, AI-driven solutions, and enterprise automation. I share my technical expertise with the community through my blog and YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MicrosoftTechy

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