How to Copy SharePoint List Columns Between Lists Using PowerShell

Professional Summary

This PowerShell script copies selected SharePoint list fields from a source Microsoft 365 SharePoint site to a destination SharePoint site using PnP PowerShell authentication with an Azure AD application certificate.

The script validates existing destination fields, identifies missing source fields, creates required fields using the original SharePoint schema XML, and produces an operational CSV report containing execution results, status, and error details.

Designed for Microsoft 365 administrators, the script supports repeatable tenant administration tasks, controlled migrations, and SharePoint list standardisation activities.

Why it matters

During Microsoft 365 migrations, tenant consolidations, SharePoint information architecture projects, or application deployments, administrators often need to replicate SharePoint list structures across sites. Manually recreating fields introduces risks:

Incorrect field types
Missing internal names
Configuration inconsistencies
Deployment delays
Lack of audit visibility

This script provides a controlled method to replicate required list columns while maintaining SharePoint schema integrity and generating an audit trail suitable for enterprise change management.

Benefits

Automates SharePoint field replication at scale
Preserves SharePoint field schema definitions
Avoids duplicate field creation
Provides detailed operational reporting
Supports unattended execution using certificate-based authentication
Suitable for large Microsoft 365 environments
Improves consistency across SharePoint site collections
Provides migration validation evidence for governance and compliance requirements
Helps teams adopt a more controlled Dev/Test/Production lifecycle for SharePoint solutions

Prerequisites

PowerShell 7+
PnP.PowerShell module
Azure AD application registration
Certificate-based authentication permissions:
- SharePoint Sites.Selected or appropriate SharePoint application permissions

#==========================================
# Configuration
#==========================================
$SourceSiteUrl      = "https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/TEST-Finance"
$DestinationSiteUrl = "https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/PROD-Finance"

$ClientId   = "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
$Thumbprint = "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
$Tenant     = "contoso.onmicrosoft.com"

$SourceListName      = "Finance"
$DestinationListName = "Finance"

$FieldsToCopy = @(
    "CostCentre"
    "Department"
    "BudgetCode"
    "GLAccount"
    "ExpenseCategory"
    "BudgetAmount"
    "ForecastAmount"
    "ClaimAmount"
    "Supplier"
    "InvoiceNumber"
    "PurchaseOrder"
    "FinancialYear"
    "ApprovalStatus"
    "Approver"
    "ReceiptReference"
)

$OutputFolder = "C:\Temp\FieldCopy"

#==========================================
# Initialisation
#==========================================

$null = New-Item -Path $OutputFolder -ItemType Directory -Force

$timeStamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyyMMdd_HHmmss"

$reportPath = Join-Path $OutputFolder "FieldCopy_$timeStamp.csv"

$startTime = Get-Date
$operator = [System.Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent().Name
$computer = $env:COMPUTERNAME

$results = [System.Collections.Generic.List[object]]::new()

Write-Host ""
Write-Host "Field Copy Started" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Operator          : $operator"
Write-Host "Computer          : $computer"
Write-Host "Source Site       : $SourceSiteUrl"
Write-Host "Destination Site  : $DestinationSiteUrl"
Write-Host ""

#==========================================
# Authentication
#==========================================

try {

    $sourceConnection = Connect-PnPOnline `
        -Url $SourceSiteUrl `
        -ClientId $ClientId `
        -Thumbprint $Thumbprint `
        -Tenant $Tenant `
        -ReturnConnection `
        -ErrorAction Stop

    $destinationConnection = Connect-PnPOnline `
        -Url $DestinationSiteUrl `
        -ClientId $ClientId `
        -Thumbprint $Thumbprint `
        -Tenant $Tenant `
        -ReturnConnection `
        -ErrorAction Stop

    $sourceFields = Get-PnPField `
        -List $SourceListName `
        -Connection $sourceConnection `
        -ErrorAction Stop

    $destinationFields = Get-PnPField `
        -List $DestinationListName `
        -Connection $destinationConnection `
        -ErrorAction Stop
}
catch {
    throw "Failed to connect to SharePoint or retrieve list fields. $($_.Exception.Message)"
}

$destinationFieldNames = [System.Collections.Generic.HashSet[string]]::new(
    [string[]]$destinationFields.InternalName
)

$totalFields = $FieldsToCopy.Count
$currentField = 0

foreach ($fieldName in $FieldsToCopy) {

    $currentField++

    Write-Progress `
        -Activity "Copying SharePoint Fields" `
        -Status "Processing $fieldName ($currentField of $totalFields)" `
        -PercentComplete (($currentField / $totalFields) * 100)

    $status = ""
    $errorMessage = ""

    try {

        if ($destinationFieldNames.Contains($fieldName)) {

            $status = "Already Exists"

            Write-Host "[SKIP] $fieldName already exists." -ForegroundColor Yellow
        }
        else {

            $sourceField = $sourceFields | Where-Object InternalName -eq $fieldName

            if ($null -eq $sourceField) {

                $status = "Source Missing"

                Write-Host "[WARN] $fieldName not found in source list." -ForegroundColor Yellow
            }
            else {

                Add-PnPFieldFromXml `
                    -List $DestinationListName `
                    -FieldXml $sourceField.SchemaXml `
                    -Connection $destinationConnection `
                    -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null

                $destinationFieldNames.Add($fieldName) | Out-Null

                $status = "Copied"

                Write-Host "[OK]   $fieldName copied." -ForegroundColor Green
            }
        }
    }
    catch {

        $status = "Failed"
        $errorMessage = $_.Exception.Message

        Write-Host "[FAIL] $fieldName" -ForegroundColor Red
        Write-Host "       $errorMessage" -ForegroundColor DarkRed
    }

    $results.Add([PSCustomObject]@{
        Date              = Get-Date
        Operator          = $operator
        Computer          = $computer
        SourceSite        = $SourceSiteUrl
        DestinationSite   = $DestinationSiteUrl
        SourceList        = $SourceListName
        DestinationList   = $DestinationListName
        Field             = $fieldName
        Status            = $status
        Error             = $errorMessage
    })
}

Write-Progress -Activity "Copying SharePoint Fields" -Completed

$results |
    Sort-Object Field |
    Export-Csv $reportPath -NoTypeInformation -Encoding UTF8

$endTime = Get-Date
$duration = $endTime - $startTime

$copied = ($results | Where-Object Status -eq "Copied").Count
$existing = ($results | Where-Object Status -eq "Already Exists").Count
$missing = ($results | Where-Object Status -eq "Source Missing").Count
$failed = ($results | Where-Object Status -eq "Failed").Count

Write-Host ""
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Field Copy Complete" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host ""
Write-Host ("Fields Requested : {0}" -f $totalFields)
Write-Host ("Copied           : {0}" -f $copied) -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host ("Already Exists   : {0}" -f $existing) -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host ("Source Missing   : {0}" -f $missing) -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host ("Failed           : {0}" -f $failed) -ForegroundColor Red
Write-Host ""
Write-Host ("Started          : {0}" -f $startTime)
Write-Host ("Completed        : {0}" -f $endTime)
Write-Host ("Duration         : {0}" -f $duration)
Write-Host ""
Write-Host ("CSV Report       : {0}" -f $reportPath)
Write-Host ""

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Install-Module PnP.PowerShell -Scope CurrentUser


.\Copy-SharePointListColumnsBetweenLists.ps1

Check out the PnP PowerShell to learn more at: https://aka.ms/pnp/powershell

The way you login into PnP PowerShell has changed please read PnP Management Shell EntraID app is deleted : what should I do ?

Output

CSV Report Location

C:\Temp\FieldCopy\

Report Contents

The script generates a CSV report containing:

Column	Description
Date	Execution timestamp
Operator	Account running the script
Computer	Execution host
SourceSite	Source SharePoint site
DestinationSite	Target SharePoint site
SourceList	Source list name
DestinationList	Destination list name
Field	Field processed
Status	Copy result
Error	Failure details if applicable

Notes

Field creation uses the original SharePoint SchemaXml to preserve configuration.
Existing destination fields are skipped automatically.
The script is idempotent and safe to rerun.
For enterprise deployments, store application IDs and certificates securely using Azure Key Vault, managed automation accounts, or enterprise credential management solutions.

Contributors

Author(s)
Josiah Opiyo

Built with a focus on automation, governance, least privilege, and clean Microsoft 365 tenants-helping M365 admins gain visibility and reduce operational risk.

Version history

Version	Date	Comments
1.0	July 11, 2026	Initial release

Disclaimer

THESE SAMPLES ARE PROVIDED AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, MERCHANTABILITY, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.