Unable to See Automatic ID MS List Column

Hi @Terralyn Pollock, 

Good day to you! Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. 

Thanks for reaching out with your question about the auto-generated ID column in Microsoft Lists. I understand you're using the ID in Grid view and on Board (Kanban) cards, but it's missing when you drill into the detailed form view of a card.  

Here’s a breakdown of why this happens and what options are available: 

The List ID is a system-generated column similar to fields like “Created,” “Modified,” or “Modified By.” In SharePoint and Microsoft Lists, these system columns are not exposed by default on the new/edit/display forms for list items. The form view is designed primarily for user-entered data, and since the ID is not editable and doesn’t exist until the item is saved, Microsoft chooses to hide it from the form UI even for existing items. 

In Board view, the card face can be configured to show selected fields, including the ID. However, when you click into a card, it opens the default item form, which follows the same rules as any list form so the ID is not shown there. 

This behavior is consistent across all views (List, Grid, Gallery, etc.): the item’s form will not show the ID unless you customize it. 

Since the form won’t show the ID by default, the only solutions involve workarounds or customizations. Here are two approaches: 

Option 1: Continue/modify the calculated column approach (Workaround) 

This is the most common workaround: create a new column that mirrors the ID and make it visible on the form. 

• You can use a calculated column with the formula =ID to display the ID number. 
• Calculated fields are read-only on forms, which is ideal for displaying an ID. 
• You may need to use the form editor to ensure the field is visible (e.g., add it to a section if it’s not showing). 

Since you already have a calculated column involving the ID, you might be able to leverage that column instead of creating a new one. For example: 

• If your calculated column concatenates the ID with another value, you can simply surface that field on the form. 
• This gives a static display of the ID once the item is saved. 

Note: 

• The ID won’t appear during item creation (since it doesn’t exist yet). 
• Having multiple representations of the ID could confuse users, so using one calculated field for all purposes is preferable. 
• This is still a workaround essentially duplicating the ID but it’s native and doesn’t require external tools. 

If your team just needs the ID for reference when viewing items (not during initial entry), this is usually acceptable. 

Option 2: Use Power Apps to Customize the Form (Supported Solution) 

Microsoft Lists allows integration with Power Apps to fully customize the form. This is a more advanced solution, but it gives you complete control over the form layout and content. 

• In Power Apps, the list’s ID field is accessible as a property of the item (ThisItem.ID). 
• You can add a label or read-only text box that binds to the ID. 
• You can place it anywhere in the form layout (e.g., top of the form for visibility). 

This approach requires more setup but gives you full flexibility and ensures the ID is always visible even during edit/view modes. 

If you require more in-depth guidance or support for these steps, you may also contact the Microsoft Power Automate Community for expert assistance. This is a specific channel related to Power Automate. The reason I ask you to post a new topic is that in the Q&A Forum, we have limited resources and very little knowledge about Power Automate, and in Microsoft Power Platform Community Forum Thread, you'll get the most qualified group of respondents, and other partners who read the forums regularly can share their knowledge or learn from your interaction.         

The specialized support team will guide you step by step and help you find the best solution for your needs.  

I hope this detailed explanation helps! If anything is unclear or if you have any more questions about this issue, please let me know. I’m here to help.  

Wishing you a great day. 

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