Error retrieving data Query cannot complete number of lookup columns exceeds lookup threshold

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Posted on by CU15041345-0

Power App is suddenly not retrieving data. What does this mean

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Sunil Kumar Pashikanti 2,318 Moderator on at

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Hi @CU15041345-0,

This is a SharePoint limitation, not a Power Apps bug.
SharePoint Online enforces a lookup column threshold of 12 lookup‑type columns per query or update. Lookup‑type columns include:

Lookup columns
Person or Group columns
Managed Metadata columns
Calculated columns that reference a lookup

When Power Apps (or a Flow) retrieves data, SharePoint evaluates all lookup‑type columns on the list, even if your app only uses a few fields.
If the total exceeds 12, SharePoint blocks the request and Power Apps shows a generic network error.

How to fix it

Audit the SharePoint list

Count all lookup‑type columns
If more than 12 exist, the error will occur

Reduce lookup usage

Remove unused lookup or Person columns
Replace some lookups with text columns if relational behavior isn’t needed

Redesign if needed

Split the data into parent/child lists
Move lookup‑heavy data to a related list

Validate via Power Automate

Check flow run history if a flow is involved
The real error message will appear in the SharePoint action

https://community.powerplatform.com/forums/thread/details/?threadid=86751534-f8c6-48d5-9065-852b7578e41e

https://community.powerplatform.com/forums/thread/details/?threadid=e92a2fc9-7d0b-427e-8561-5b585d1f40a9

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1655727/the-query-cannot-be-completed-because-the-number-o

https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/sharepoint-lookup-column-threshold-in-powerapps-custom-forms/

https://community.powerplatform.com/forums/thread/details/?threadid=7b6f15d0-9a22-4853-8f48-c5209c83a230

✅ If this answer helped resolve your issue, please mark it as Accepted so it can help others with the same problem.
👍 Feel free to Like the post if you found it useful.

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CU29092301-0 115 on at

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Thank you for your response.

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MS.Ragavendar 7,431 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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@CU15041345-0 / @CU29092301-0 i hope you have got the answer from @Sunil Kumar Pashikanti hence i am marking this as solved.

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