Power Platform Community Forum Thread Details

Hi,

This is a very common concern when working with large SharePoint lists.

If you're not in a hurry, Power Automate can definitely do the job — just not all at once.

✅ Recommended Solution: Batch Deletion via SharePoint API

If you're familiar with technical documentation and comfortable working with HTTP actions, you can use batch operations via the SharePoint API to delete items efficiently.

There's a great example and explanation here:

Blog: https://tachytelic.net/2021/06/power-automate-delete-sharepoint-items/#h-flow-code-and-implementation
YouTube walkthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ImkuGpEeoo

This method significantly improves performance and reduces the number of API calls needed, making it ideal for large datasets.

🕒 Optional Maintenance: Scheduled Cleanup Flow

To prevent this from happening again in the future, consider setting up a Power Automate Scheduled Flow that:

Runs during off-hours (e.g., overnight).
Filters for items older than a certain date (e.g., 90 days).
Deletes up to 100,000 records per run (using batching or iteration).

This scheduled cleanup is:

Easy to maintain
API-efficient
Ideal for ongoing data hygiene

⚠️ Notes:

Make sure to monitor API usage limits (both SharePoint and Power Automate).
Consider adding a delay between deletions or batches to avoid throttling.
Index your Created column for better filtering performance.

🧰 Alternative: PowerShell

If you need it done faster or all at once, PowerShell with SharePoint PnP or CSOM is a better fit. It can delete items in bulk, but you’ll need:

Admin rights
Proper authentication setup (especially for SharePoint Online)

✅ Bottom line: Use SharePoint API batching for efficient mass deletion. Then schedule a recurring Power Automate flow to keep your list clean over time.

If this post helped you, please click "Does this answer your question?" and give it a like to help others in the community find the answer too!

José Martínez Lago
Solution Architect | Dynamics 365 & Power Platform
Empowering low-code consultants to deliver high-impact solutions
Blog: www.thatsagoodquestion.info
LinkedIn: martinezlago

If you have any follow-up or questions, feel free to mention me in your reply so I get properly notified!