Add multiple folders in libraries using a CSV file

Summary

This script sample will allow you to create the folders (not nested) into the SharePoint libraries provided in the CSV file.

Create folders on single SharePoint site

Below is an example of the format needed for your .csv file:

libName	folderName
Customers	Contracts
Support	Roadmaps
Support	Analysis

Important

Make sure your target libraries contained in the file do exist in SharePoint Online site.

PnP PowerShell
CLI for Microsoft 365

# Config Variables
$SiteURL = "https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/Ops"
$CSVFilePath = "C:\Temp\Folders.csv"
 
Try {
    # Connect to PnP Online
    Connect-PnPOnline -Url $SiteURL -Interactive
    $Web = Get-PnPWeb
 
    # Get the CSV file
    $CSVFile = Import-Csv $CSVFilePath
  
    # Read CSV file and create folders
    ForEach($Row in $CSVFile)
    {
        # Get the Document Library and its site relative URL
        $Library = Get-PnPList -Identity $Row.libName -Includes RootFolder

        If($Web.ServerRelativeUrl -eq "/")
        {
            $LibrarySiteRelativeURL = $Library.RootFolder.ServerRelativeUrl
        }
        else
        {
            $LibrarySiteRelativeURL = $Library.RootFolder.ServerRelativeUrl.Replace($Web.ServerRelativeUrl,'')
        }

        # Replace Invalid Characters from Folder Name, If any
        $FolderName = $Row.folderName
        $FolderName = [RegEx]::Replace($FolderName, "[{0}]" -f ([RegEx]::Escape([String]'\"*:<>?/\|')), '_')
 
        # Frame the Folder Name
        $FolderURL = $LibrarySiteRelativeURL+"/"+$FolderName
 
        # Create Folder if it doesn't exist
        Resolve-PnPFolder -SiteRelativePath $FolderURL | Out-Null
        Write-host "Ensured Folder:"$FolderName -f Green
    }
}
catch {
    write-host "Error: $($_.Exception.Message)" -foregroundcolor Red
}

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# SharePoint online site URL
$SiteURL = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter your SharePoint site URL (e.g https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/Company311)"

# Location of the CSV file
$CSVFilePath= "D:\dtemp\Folders.csv"

# Get Credentials to connect
$m365Status = m365 status
if ($m365Status -match "Logged Out") {
    m365 login
}

Try {
    # Get the CSV file
    $CSVFile = Import-Csv $CSVFilePath
  
    # Read CSV file and create folders
    ForEach($Row in $CSVFile)
    {
        # Get the Document Library and its site relative URL
		$Library = m365 spo list get --webUrl $SiteURL --title $Row.libName --properties "Title,Id,RootFolder/ServerRelativeUrl" | ConvertFrom-Json
		$LibrarySiteRelativeURL = $Library.RootFolder.ServerRelativeUrl

        # Replace Invalid Characters from Folder Name, If any
        $FolderName = $Row.folderName
        $FolderName = [RegEx]::Replace($FolderName, "[{0}]" -f ([RegEx]::Escape([String]'\"*:<>?/\|')), '_')
 
        # Create Folder if it doesn't exist
		m365 spo folder add --webUrl $SiteURL --parentFolderUrl $LibrarySiteRelativeURL --name $FolderName
        Write-host "Folder Created: "$FolderName -f Green
    }
}
catch {
    write-host "Error: $($_.Exception.Message)" -ForegroundColor Red
}

# Disconnect SharePoint online connection
m365 logout

Check out the CLI for Microsoft 365 to learn more at: https://aka.ms/cli-m365

Important changes coming to the way you login into CLI for Microsoft 365 (effective 9th September 2024) see Changes in PnP Management Shell registration in Microsoft 365

Create folders on multiple SharePoint sites

Below is an example of the format needed for your .csv file:

libName	folderName	SiteUrl
Customers	Contracts	https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/site1
Support	Roadmaps	https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/site2
Support	Analysis	https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/site2

Important

Make sure your target libraries & sites contained in the file do exist in SharePoint Online.

PnP PowerShell
CLI for Microsoft 365

#Config Variables
$CSVFilePath = "C:\Temp\Folders.csv"

Try { 
    # Get the CSV file
    $CSVFile = Import-Csv $CSVFilePath
  
    # Read CSV file and create folders
    ForEach($Row in $CSVFile)
    {
        $SiteURL = $Row.SiteUrl
        
        # Connect to PnP Online
        Connect-PnPOnline -Url $SiteURL -Interactive
        $Web = Get-PnPWeb
        
        # Get the Document Library and its site relative URL
        $Library = Get-PnPList -Identity $Row.libName -Includes RootFolder
        
        If($Web.ServerRelativeUrl -eq "/")
        {
            $LibrarySiteRelativeURL = $Library.RootFolder.ServerRelativeUrl
        }
        else
        {
            $LibrarySiteRelativeURL = $Library.RootFolder.ServerRelativeUrl.Replace($Web.ServerRelativeUrl,'')
        }
        
        # Replace Invalid Characters from Folder Name, If any
        $FolderName = $Row.folderName
        $FolderName = [RegEx]::Replace($FolderName, "[{0}]" -f ([RegEx]::Escape([String]'\"*:<>?/\|')), '_')
 
        # Frame the Folder Name
        $FolderURL = $LibrarySiteRelativeURL+"/"+$FolderName
 
        # Create Folder if it doesn't exist
        Resolve-PnPFolder -SiteRelativePath $FolderURL | Out-Null
        Write-host "Ensured Folder:"$FolderName -f Green
    }
}
catch {
    write-host "Error: $($_.Exception.Message)" -foregroundcolor Red
}

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 ?

# Location of the CSV file
$CSVFilePath= "D:\dtemp\Folders.csv"

# Get Credentials to connect
$m365Status = m365 status
if ($m365Status -match "Logged Out") {
    m365 login
}

Try {
    # Get the CSV file
    $CSVFile = Import-Csv $CSVFilePath
  
    # Read CSV file and create folders
    ForEach($Row in $CSVFile)
    {
		$SiteURL = $Row.SiteUrl
		
        # Get the Document Library and its site relative URL
		$Library = m365 spo list get --webUrl $SiteURL --title $Row.libName --properties "Title,Id,RootFolder/ServerRelativeUrl" | ConvertFrom-Json
		$LibrarySiteRelativeURL = $Library.RootFolder.ServerRelativeUrl

        # Replace Invalid Characters from Folder Name, If any
        $FolderName = $Row.folderName
        $FolderName = [RegEx]::Replace($FolderName, "[{0}]" -f ([RegEx]::Escape([String]'\"*:<>?/\|')), '_')
 
        # Create Folder if it doesn't exist
		m365 spo folder add --webUrl $SiteURL --parentFolderUrl $LibrarySiteRelativeURL --name $FolderName
        Write-host "Folder Created: "$FolderName -f Green
    }
}
catch {
    write-host "Error: $($_.Exception.Message)" -ForegroundColor Red
}

# Disconnect SharePoint online connection
m365 logout

Check out the CLI for Microsoft 365 to learn more at: https://aka.ms/cli-m365

Important changes coming to the way you login into CLI for Microsoft 365 (effective 9th September 2024) see Changes in PnP Management Shell registration in Microsoft 365

Contributors

Author(s)
Jiten Parmar
Ganesh Sanap

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.