How to Rename a Folder in SharePoint Online Document Library Using Power Automate

Introduction

SharePoint Online provides an effective way to organize and manage documents using folders. However, manually renaming folders can be time-consuming, especially when folder names need to change based on business requirements. Power Automate can automate this process by dynamically renaming SharePoint folders using the Send an HTTP request to SharePoint action.

Renaming a SharePoint folder automatically is a common requirement when folder names need to follow a naming convention, include a project/reference number, or change based on business conditions.

Power Automate does not provide a simple dedicated Rename Folder action in the SharePoint connector. A reliable approach is to use Send an HTTP request to SharePoint and update the folder's FileLeafRef property through the SharePoint REST API. Microsoft documents this approach using a MERGE request.

1. Scenario

Suppose you have the following SharePoint document library:

Documents
│
├── Invoice
│   ├── Alabama
│   ├── KDS West
│   └── KDS New England

You want Power Automate to rename:

Alabama

to:

Alabama_Archive

The final structure will be:

Documents
│
└── Invoice
    ├── Alabama_Archive
    ├── KDS West
    └── KDS New England

The folder is renamed in place, rather than copying the folder and deleting the original. This approach preserves the existing SharePoint item rather than creating a replacement.

2. Power Automate Flow

The basic flow is:

Trigger
   ↓
Initialize Variable – Old Folder Path
   ↓
Initialize Variable – New Folder Name
   ↓
Send an HTTP Request to SharePoint
   ↓
Folder Renamed

3. Create the Flow

Go to:

Power Automate → Create → Instant cloud flow

For testing, select:

Manually trigger a flow

You can later replace this with another trigger, such as:

When an item is created
When an item is modified
Recurrence
Power Apps
Another flow

4. Initialize the Old Folder Path

Add:

Initialize variable

Configure:

Property	Value
Name	`OldFolderPath`
Type	`String`
Value	`/sites/InvoiceApproval/Shared Documents/Invoices/Alabama`

Example:

/sites/InvoiceApproval/Shared Documents/Invoices/Alabama

Use the server-relative URL of the folder.

5. Initialize the New Folder Name

Add another:

Initialize variable

Configure:

Property	Value
Name	`NewFolderName`
Type	`String`
Value	`Alabama_Archive`

Notice that this variable contains only the new folder name, not the complete path.

6. Add "Send an HTTP request to SharePoint"

Add the SharePoint action:

Send an HTTP request to SharePoint

Microsoft specifically provides this action for scenarios where the standard SharePoint connector actions do not cover the required operation.

Site Address

Select your SharePoint site.

Example:

https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/InvoiceApproval

Method

POST

URI

_api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('@{variables('OldFolderPath')}')/ListItemAllFields

7. Configure Headers

Add the following headers:

Key	Value
`IF-MATCH`	`*`
`X-HTTP-Method`	`MERGE`
`Accept`	`application/json;odata=verbose`
`Content-Type`	`application/json;odata=verbose`

The MERGE operation updates the existing SharePoint list item rather than creating a new one. Microsoft documents this exact pattern for renaming folders.

8. Configure the Body

Use:

{
  "__metadata": {
    "type": "SP.Data.Shared_x0020_DocumentsItem"
  },
  "Title": "@{variables('NewFolderName')}",
  "FileLeafRef": "@{variables('NewFolderName')}"
}

Important

The value of SP.Data.Shared_x0020_DocumentsItem can vary depending on your document library. Microsoft recommends obtaining the folder's OData type first because the type depends on the library configuration.

For example, your library may have an entity type similar to:

SP.Data.Shared_x0020_DocumentsItem

or another generated name.

9. Complete HTTP Configuration

Your action will look conceptually like this:

Send an HTTP request to SharePoint

Site Address:
https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/InvoiceApproval

Method:
POST

URI:
_api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('@{variables('OldFolderPath')}')/ListItemAllFields

Headers

IF-MATCH
*

X-HTTP-Method
MERGE

Accept
application/json;odata=verbose

Content-Type
application/json;odata=verbose

Body

{
  "__metadata": {
    "type": "SP.Data.Shared_x0020_DocumentsItem"
  },
  "Title": "@{variables('NewFolderName')}",
  "FileLeafRef": "@{variables('NewFolderName')}"
}

10. How It Works

The important part is:

FileLeafRef

FileLeafRef is the SharePoint internal field used for the file/folder name. Updating it changes the actual folder name. Microsoft’s REST documentation shows both Title and FileLeafRef being updated when renaming a folder.

For example:

Old:

Alabama

Power Automate sends:

{
  "FileLeafRef": "Alabama_Archive"
}

Result:

Alabama_Archive

11. Dynamic Folder Rename

You don't need to hardcode the new folder name.

For example, suppose you want:

Invoice_2026

You can create it dynamically using:

concat('Invoice_', formatDateTime(utcNow(),'yyyy'))

Or based on a SharePoint column:

concat(triggerBody()?['InvoiceNumber'], '_Archive')

For example:

INV-10025_Archive

12. Example Using Invoice Approval

For an Invoice Approval application, you could have:

Invoice Documents
│
├── INV-10001
├── INV-10002
├── INV-10003

After the invoice is paid, Power Automate could rename:

INV-10001

to:

INV-10001_Paid

The flow would be:

Invoice Status = Paid
        ↓
Get folder/path
        ↓
Create New Folder Name
        ↓
Send HTTP Request
        ↓
Rename Folder

Dynamic expression:

concat(variables('OldFolderName'), '_Paid')

13. Alternative: Rename Using List Item ID

If you already have the folder's SharePoint Item ID, another useful approach is the validateUpdateListItem endpoint.

Example:

_api/web/lists/GetByTitle('Documents')/items(72)/validateUpdateListItem

Body:

{
  "formValues": [
    {
      "FieldName": "FileLeafRef",
      "FieldValue": "Renamed Folder"
    }
  ]
}

This approach is particularly convenient when the folder ID is already available in your flow.

14. Which Method Should You Use?

Method	Best for
`GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl` + `MERGE`	When you have the folder path
`validateUpdateListItem`	When you have the SharePoint item ID
Copy + Delete	Generally avoid for a true rename

✅ Use `FileLeafRef`

FileLeafRef = New Folder Name

✅ Use `MERGE`

X-HTTP-Method: MERGE

✅ Use `IF-MATCH: *`

This allows the update without requiring a specific ETag.

✅ Use the server-relative folder path

Example:

/sites/InvoiceApproval/Shared Documents/Invoices/Alabama

❌ Don't put the complete path in `FileLeafRef`

Incorrect:

FileLeafRef:
 /sites/InvoiceApproval/Shared Documents/Invoices/Alabama_Archive

Correct:

FileLeafRef:
 Alabama_Archive

Conclusion

Renaming folders with Power Automate helps reduce manual work and maintain a consistent folder structure in SharePoint Online. By using the SharePoint REST API and updating the FileLeafRef property, folders can be renamed dynamically while keeping their existing files and contents intact. This approach is useful for document management, invoice processing, project folders, and archive processes.

Introduction

1. Scenario

Site Address

Method

URI

Important

Headers

Body

Recommended

✅ Use FileLeafRef

✅ Use MERGE

✅ Use IF-MATCH: *

✅ Use the server-relative folder path

❌ Don't put the complete path in FileLeafRef

Conclusion

✅ Use `FileLeafRef`

✅ Use `MERGE`

✅ Use `IF-MATCH: *`

❌ Don't put the complete path in `FileLeafRef`