Board View Cards Show Blank Fields: Root Cause and Fix

Board view cards in SharePoint and Microsoft Lists display blank fields instead of the data you expect. This problem occurs when the card layout references columns that do not exist or when the view’s JSON formatting contains invalid references. This article explains the technical root cause of blank card fields and provides step-by-step fixes to restore your data.

Why Board View Cards Display Blank Fields

Board view in SharePoint and Lists groups items by a chosen column and displays card layouts. Each card can show fields from the list or library. When a card shows a blank field, the root cause is almost always a mismatch between the card layout definition and the actual column schema of the list or library.

The card layout is defined using JSON (JavaScript Object Notation). This JSON tells SharePoint which columns to display on each card. If a column referenced in the JSON is deleted, renamed, or moved, SharePoint cannot resolve the reference. It renders the field as blank instead of showing an error.

The Role of Column Internal Names

Every column in a SharePoint list has two names: a display name (visible to users) and an internal name (used by the system). The JSON card layout uses the internal name. When you rename a column, its internal name stays the same. But if you delete a column and create a new one with the same display name, the internal name is different. The old JSON still references the old internal name, and the card shows a blank.

JSON Formatting Errors

A single syntax error in the JSON — such as a missing comma, an extra brace, or a misspelled key — can cause the entire card layout to fail silently. SharePoint may fall back to a default layout that shows blank fields. This is especially common when users manually edit the JSON in the Format current view pane.

Steps to Fix Blank Fields in Board View Cards

Follow these steps to identify and repair the card layout JSON. Perform these steps in a SharePoint list or Microsoft Lists that uses board view.

1. Open the list or library in board view
   Go to the list or library that shows blank card fields. On the view selector at the top right of the page, choose the board view that has the problem. If the view is not selected, select it.
2. Open the Format current view pane
   Click the dropdown arrow next to the view name (or the Switch view options). Select Format current view. A pane opens on the right side of the page. This pane contains the JSON that defines the card layout.
3. Inspect the JSON for column references
   In the Format current view pane, look for the card or fields section. Each field object should have a property like "internalName" or "name". Compare each internal name to the actual columns in your list. To see internal names, go to list settings, click a column name, and look at the URL parameter Field=. The value after Field= is the internal name.
4. Replace incorrect or missing internal names
   If a referenced internal name does not match any current column, replace it with the correct internal name. If the column was deleted, remove the entire field object from the JSON. Be careful to preserve valid JSON syntax — use a JSON validator if needed.
5. Apply the corrected JSON
   After editing the JSON, click the Preview button (if available) to verify the card fields display data. Then click Save to apply the changes. Refresh the page to confirm that blank fields are now populated.

If Board View Cards Still Show Blank Fields

If the main fix does not resolve the issue, other factors may cause blank fields. Below are common scenarios and their specific fixes.

Board View Card Shows Blank Field After Renaming a Column

Renaming a column does not change its internal name. The JSON should still work. If blank fields appear after a rename, check the JSON for any hard-coded display name references. Some older card layouts used display names instead of internal names. Replace any display name with the correct internal name.

Board View Card Shows Blank Field After Importing a List

When you import a list from a CSV or an Excel file, the columns may have different internal names than the original list. Open the Format current view pane and compare each internal name in the JSON to the imported list’s columns. Update the JSON to match the new internal names.

Board View Card Shows Blank Field for a Lookup Column

Lookup columns require a specific syntax in the JSON. The internal name must include the lookup source column, such as LookupColumnName.ID or LookupColumnName.Title. If the JSON only references the lookup column name without the subfield, the card shows blank. Add the correct subfield after a period.

Board View vs Gallery View: Card Field Behavior

Item	Board View	Gallery View
Card layout source	JSON in Format current view pane	JSON in Format current view pane
Field reference method	Internal name in JSON	Internal name in JSON
Blank field behavior	Empty space on card	Empty space on card
Common cause of blanks	Deleted or renamed columns	Deleted or renamed columns
Fix location	Format current view pane	Format current view pane

The root cause and fix for blank fields are identical in board view and gallery view. Both views use the same JSON formatting engine. The steps in this article apply to both views without modification.

After applying the corrected JSON, always test the view by adding a new item or editing an existing one. If blank fields reappear, check the JSON for any column that was added after the layout was created. Remove or update those references as needed.

To avoid blank fields in the future, always use column internal names when editing card layout JSON. Before deleting a column, remove its reference from any board or gallery view JSON. Use the Format current view pane to export and back up your card layout JSON before making changes to list columns.