Default vs DefaultSelectedItems Property in Power Apps

In this article, we will understand how to use Default and DefaultSelectedItems properties in Power Apps. We will also see their differences, examples, and common mistakes in a simple way.

What is Default property?

The Default property is used to set a starting value for a control.

Used in - Text Input, Label, Date Picker etc.

Example

Default = "Krish Kanakiya"

Explanation

• It shows a value when the control first loads

• It works with simple values like text, numbers, or dates

When to use Default property

• You have a simple value

• The control needs text, number, or date

What is DefaultSelectedItems property?

The DefaultSelectedItems property is used to set selected value(s) in controls that show a list of options.

Used in - ComboBox, ListBox, Dropdown etc.

Example

DefaultSelectedItems = {Value: "Krish Kanakiya"}

Explanation

• It sets the selected item when the control loads

• It works with records (data in table format), not simple text

When to use DefaultSelectedItems property

• You are using ComboBox or multi-select controls

• Your data comes as records (like SharePoint Choice or Lookup columns)

Common Mistake

Don’t use Default in a ComboBox with SharePoint Choice like this:

Default = "Krish Kanakiya"

Use DefaultSelectedItems instead:

DefaultSelectedItems = {Value: "Krish Kanakiya"}

Why?

• ComboBox expects record data, not simple text

• "Krish Kanakiya" is just text

• {Value: "Krish Kanakiya"} is a record

Conclusion

Using this article, you can clearly understand the difference between Default and DefaultSelectedItems in Power Apps, you can now choose the correct property based on the control and data type, and avoid common mistakes while building apps.