#PowerPlatformTip 107: ‘Last Item from SharePointList’

TL;DR: Get the newest SharePoint item in Power Apps with First(SortByColumns(List, "ID", Descending)), delegable, unlike Last().

💡 Challenge

You need the latest entry from a SharePoint list in PowerApps, but Last() isn’t delegable, so the direct approach seems out of reach on larger lists.

✅ Solution

Sort the SharePoint list by the ID column in descending order, then take the top row with First(). Both are delegable to SharePoint, so it scales.

🔧 How It’s Done

🔸 Sort the data source by the ID column in descending order so the newest item is on top:

🔸 SortByColumns('Your List', "ID", Descending)

🔸 Wrap it in First() to grab that top item, the latest entry:

🔸 First(SortByColumns('Your List', "ID", Descending))

🎉 Result

You reliably access the most recent item from your SharePoint list in PowerApps, sidestepping the delegation limitation of Last().

🌟 Key Advantages

🔸 Simple & efficient: a straightforward way to get the most recent entry.

🔸 Versatile: sort by other columns (Created, Modified…) for different scenarios.

🔸 Delegable: works on large lists because sorting happens on the server.

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🎥 Video Tutorial

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🛠️ FAQ

1. Why can’t I use the Last function directly on SharePoint lists? Last() is not delegable for SharePoint in PowerApps, so it only works on the first 500 (or up to 2000) records. First(SortByColumns(...)) returns the actual latest item regardless of list size.

2. Can I sort by columns other than ID? Yes, sort by any orderable column such as Created, Modified, or a custom date/number field, e.g. First(SortByColumns(YourList, "Created", Descending)).

3. Will this method work with large SharePoint lists? Yes. The approach is delegable, so it works efficiently even on lists with thousands of items because sorting and filtering happen on the SharePoint server.

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