Network error when using Patch function: Column #Id is read‑only and cannot be modified.

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Posted on by Hydrogendioxid

I am experiencing intermittent errors when patching Choice fields from a Power Apps Canvas App to a SharePoint list, especially when users interact quickly with dropdown or combo box controls.

Scenario

The app uses a local record variable (e.g. varItem) as working state.
On control OnChange, the local record is updated immediately
Changes are then patched to SharePoint (manually).
The SharePoint list contains several Choice fields (single select).

The problem

When users change selections quickly (within ~few second), Sharepoint patch operations sometimes fail with errors like:

“Network error when using Patch function: Column <FieldName>#Id is read‑only and cannot be modified.”

I am not explicitly patching #Id fields.

The patch syntax for Choice fields is correctThe issue:does not happen consistently

seems related to fast user interaction

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Building Power Apps

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11manish 1,831 on at

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This is not a syntax issue, but a timing + record structure issue caused by:

Rapid user interaction

Async updates

Hidden SharePoint metadata fields

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WarrenBelz 155,212 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @Hydrogendioxid,

Please post your Patch code (in Text) and also how and when the Variable is set. The error also suggests that you are trying to patch to a Lookup field - please confirm if this is the case.

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WarrenBelz 155,212 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @Hydrogendioxid,

A quick follow-up to see if you received the answer you were looking for. Happy to assist further if not.

Please ✅ Does this answer your question if my post helped you solve your issue. This will help others find it more readily. It also closes the item. If the content was useful in other ways, please consider answering Yes to Was this reply helpful? or give it a Like ♥
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Hydrogendioxid 13 on at

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The problem was caused by using a direct record set (working record) as the source for Patch, even though all visible system columns were removed (e.g. via DropColumns).Despite this, hidden system fields (including internal #Id references) are still part of the record.When users interact very quickly (rapid OnChange events), these hidden fields can end up in an invalid state, causing SharePoint to reject the patch with errors like:

Column <FieldName>#Id is read-only and cannot be modified

This explains why

The error was intermittent

It appeared during AFTER the following patch
No #Id fields were explicitly patched

Solution:
Do not patch the working record directly.

Instead:

Create a new, independent record explicitly defining only the fields that should be patched

Patch this clean record to SharePoint By constructing a fresh record instead of reusing the local recordset, no hidden system fields are carried over, and the Patch becomes stable and reliable.

After switching to this approach, the error no longer occurs—even with fast user interaction

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