Use the image column in a SharePoint list
Short answer: an Image column adds a single image file from your device to a list item. You add, replace or delete the picture in the item form.
Add and change a picture
Exact names may differ on your screen.
- Add a column of type Image to the list.
- Open or create an item and use the list form to add the image.
- To replace or remove it, open the item and, in the form, select the Edit (pencil) icon or the Delete (garbage can) icon.
One picture per item
Microsoft's wording is "a single image file". If an item needs several photos, our advice, not a Microsoft rule: use one Image column per photo you need, or keep the photos in a document library and link to them. Test with your own list first.
Show a picture from a web address instead
A Hyperlink or Picture column stores a URL. Microsoft says: "To display a graphic, instead of the URL for the graphics file, select the Picture format." The person filling it in must enter the complete URL of the graphic, and can add alternative text for screen readers. In the modern experience the column is named Hyperlink, and Microsoft says it shows either a clickable link or the graphic, depending on the display format you choose. Check which format options you see on your own site.
Gallery view
Microsoft's view page says: "The Gallery view option is only available in SharePoint Online." Pick it under Show as when you create a view. For the full setup of a gallery, see "Use and format the gallery view in a SharePoint list".
What to avoid
- Do not expect more than one picture in a single Image column.
- Do not rely on a Hyperlink or Picture column showing a picture until you test it on your own view.
- Our advice, not a Microsoft rule: name each Image column for what the photo shows, such as "Front photo", so the form is clear.
When to get help
You can build all of this yourself in Microsoft 365. If you would rather have it built and tested for your team, I do that. A tracker like this is a fixed price: $5,000 for one, built in 2 weeks. See "What a SharePoint tracker costs to build". Bring one example of the problem to a free call.
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FAQ
How many images can a SharePoint image column hold?
Microsoft says it adds a single image file to an item.
How do I replace a picture in a SharePoint list item?
Open the item form and select the Edit (pencil) icon. The Delete icon is a garbage can.
How do I show a picture from a URL in a SharePoint list?
Use a Hyperlink or Picture column and select the Picture format, where your site offers it. Enter the full URL of the graphic.
Is gallery view available in every SharePoint?
Microsoft says the Gallery view option is only available in SharePoint Online.
Can a picture from a URL have alt text?
Yes. Microsoft says people can enter alternative text for the graphic, which screen-reading software reads aloud.
Sources
- Microsoft Support, List and library column types and options
- Microsoft Support, Create, change, or delete a view of a list or library