Design Modern PowerApps forms made easy for everyone
You might remember your first PowerApps form. Many beginner users start with a basic layout and soon want to enhance their forms. Advanced users also seek ways to boost their experience, especially when facing issues like screen layout changes or customizing data cards.
When you learn power apps, you discover that every experience helps you grow. Whether you are a beginner or have years of experience, you can learn power apps techniques that transform your forms. With the right steps, you will master Design Modern PowerApps forms that look modern and feel intuitive.
Key Takeaways
Start with the right setup: use Power Apps Studio, connect to data sources, and learn basic formulas to build confidence.
Choose between classic and modern controls based on your need for customization or a quick, sleek look.
Organize your forms with data cards, sections, and tabs to make them easy to use and navigate.
Design responsive forms using containers and flexible layouts to ensure they work well on all devices.
Apply validation and performance tips to create smooth, error-free forms that users enjoy.
Getting Started with Power Apps Tutorials
What is a Form?
When you explore power apps tutorials, you will see that a form is a key building block in every app. A form lets you collect, display, and edit data. You use forms to enter information, update records, or view details from sources like SharePoint or Microsoft Dataverse. In many power apps tutorials, you will find that forms connect users to data in a simple way. If you want to customize sharepoint list forms, you start by understanding how forms work in canvas apps. Forms can be simple or advanced, but every beginner learns to use them early in their journey.
Setting Up Your Environment
Before you dive into power apps tutorials, you need to set up your environment. You must have a Microsoft account to access Power Apps. You will use Power Apps Studio, which gives you a drag-and-drop interface. Here are the essentials you need:
Microsoft account for Power Apps access
Familiarity with Power Apps Studio
Ability to connect to data sources like SharePoint, Excel, or Dataverse
Use of screens, controls, and data sources in canvas apps
Knowledge of basic Power Apps formulas such as Patch, LookUp, and Sort
Integration with services like Power Automate and Power BI
Optional use of AI Builder for advanced features
Planning your app’s goals and data structure
Testing, debugging, and publishing your app with the right permissions
You will see these steps in many beginner tutorials in power apps. Each step helps you build confidence as you learn power apps.
Creating Your First Form
Now you are ready to create a canvas app. In most power apps tutorials, you start by choosing a data source, such as a SharePoint list. You add a form to your screen and connect it to your data. You can use power apps sharepoint tutorials to learn how to submit form to sharepoint list. You will also find power apps gallery tutorials helpful for displaying lists of items. As you create a canvas app, you can customize sharepoint list forms and use power apps gallery tutorials to improve your design. With practice, you will master tutorials and create apps that meet your needs.
Tip: Always test your form before you publish. This ensures your users can enter and update data without issues.
Design Modern PowerApps Forms
Classic vs Modern Controls
When you start to design modern powerapps forms, you will notice two main types of form controls: classic and modern controls. Each type offers a unique set of features and customization options. Classic controls have been around since the early days of Power Apps. They give you a lot of flexibility. You can change almost every part of the design, from colors and fonts to the layout of field labels and input boxes. Classic controls let you unlock data cards and add custom power apps controls, which helps you create a unique experience for your users.
Modern controls, on the other hand, focus on a sleek and updated look. These controls come with built-in animations and a clean design that fits well with today’s user interface trends. You will see that modern controls offer a better out-of-the-box appearance. For example, the date picker and dropdowns look more polished. Modern controls also include validation state properties, which give users real-time feedback and help reduce errors.
However, modern controls have fewer customization options compared to classic controls. You can change the size, style, and some colors, but you cannot always adjust every detail. Many users want more ways to change the appearance, such as customizing the info button color or adjusting date formats. Some modern controls, like the date picker, do not yet have all the features found in classic controls. As Microsoft continues to improve modern controls, you can expect more options and better functionality in the future.
Tip: If you want a quick, modern look and do not need deep customization, modern controls are a great choice. If you need a unique design or advanced features, classic controls give you more control.
Choosing the Right Form Control
Selecting the right form control is a key step when you design modern powerapps forms. You should match the control to the type of data you want to collect and the experience you want to create. Here are some important criteria to consider:
Use text input controls for fields that require text, such as names or addresses.
Choose date pickers for date fields, especially when you need to restrict the date range.
Select combo boxes or dropdowns for fields with a set of options. Filtering these controls helps prevent duplicate or invalid entries.
Apply validation rules to keep your data accurate. For example, require a full name, check that phone numbers and emails have the correct format, and make sure dates are not in the past.
Use modern controls with validation state properties to give users instant feedback and error messages.
Add conditional validation logic. For example, only validate extra questions if a user answers "Yes" to a previous question.
Track the validation status of each field using collections and OnChange events. This helps you make sure all fields are correct before submission.
You should also think about the look and feel of your app. If you want a light-themed design and do not need to change many details, modern controls work well. If you want a dark theme or a custom design, classic controls let you adjust every part of the form. Always consider the needs of your users and the type of data you are collecting.
Adding and Managing Data Cards
Once you have chosen your form control, you need to add and manage data cards. Data cards hold the fields that users fill out. You can follow these steps to set up your data cards in Power Apps:
Select your form control. Use the right-hand pane to pick which fields to show, change their order, and choose the card type, such as single-line or multi-line text.
Add a card for each field you want. Power Apps will create the card with default settings.
Unlock a card if you want to customize it. This lets you change properties like DataField, DisplayName, and Required.
Change the controls inside the card. You can resize them, move them, or add new power apps controls, such as an image control for an ImageURL field.
Set key properties:
DataField: links the card to a field in your data source.
Default: usually set to ThisItem.FieldName to show current data.
Update: tells Power Apps what value to save.
Required: marks the field as needed.
Use formulas in your controls. Reference Parent.Default to bind to the card’s data.
Handle validation and errors. Use the card’s Error property and related controls to show messages.
After users finish editing, use SubmitForm to save changes. Power Apps reads each card’s DataField and Update properties to update your data source.
If you want to reset a customized card, remove it and add it again from the right-hand pane.
You can also change a single-line text card to a multi-line card if you need more space for input. Add a star icon to show required fields. Unlock an ImageURL card and insert an image control to display images that users can edit. Move and resize controls inside a card to match your design.
Note: Organizing your data cards well makes your form easier to use. Group related fields together and use clear field labels. This helps users complete the form quickly and reduces mistakes.
When you design modern powerapps forms, you create a better experience for everyone. You can use modern controls for a fresh look or classic controls for deep customization. By following these steps, you will build forms that are both attractive and easy to use.
Forms Design and Guidelines
Layout and Responsiveness
You want your Power Apps forms to look great on any device. Responsive design helps you achieve this goal. Use auto-layout container controls to position your fields automatically. These containers arrange your controls vertically or horizontally and adjust their size based on the parent container. You can group related elements and keep your layout structured. Try using flexible height and width properties, such as AutoHeight and AutoWidth, to let controls resize as needed.
Tip: Test your form on different devices and orientations. Stack controls vertically for portrait mode and side-by-side for landscape. Disable the 'Scale to Fit' option in settings so your screen expands dynamically.
Follow these steps for a responsive layout:
Insert horizontal and vertical containers to manage spacing.
Use formulas to adjust control sizes based on screen size.
Enable snap-to-grid for precise alignment.
Compress media files to improve loading times.
A responsive layout leads to an improved user experience and ensures a consistent user experience across devices.
Accessibility Best Practices
Design your forms so everyone can use them. Follow standards like WCAG 2.1 and US Section 508. Add tooltips to form fields for screen readers. Use validation summary links to help users find errors quickly. Make sure your color choices have enough contrast and do not rely only on color to show information. Add alt text to images and hide decorative images from screen readers.
Provide clear feedback on errors by listing them at the top and highlighting fields.
Protect users from losing unsaved data by prompting before exit.
Use a single form for creating, editing, and displaying records to keep things simple.
Test your form by zooming in to 400% to check readability and function. These steps help you create a consistent user experience for everyone.
Organizing with Sections and Tabs
Organize your form fields into sections and tabs for better clarity. You can create buttons as tabs and label them for each section, such as GENERAL or CONTACT INFO. Style the active tab with a bright color and keep inactive tabs transparent. Use a variable to track which tab is active. Show only the fields that belong to the selected tab by setting their Visible property.
Here is a simple way to organize your form:
Add buttons for each tab and label them.
Change the fill color of the active tab.
Use a variable to track the selected tab.
Insert a single-column form and stack fields vertically.
Set field visibility based on the selected tab.
Grouping fields in sections or tabs makes your forms easier to use and improves navigation. This approach supports forms design and guidelines that lead to an improved user experience.
Advanced Form Customization
When you want to take your Power Apps forms to the next level, you need to use advanced techniques. These methods help you create forms that look professional, work smoothly, and give users a great experience. Let’s explore some of the most effective ways to customize your forms.
UI Customization Tricks
You can make your forms stand out by using advanced UI customization tricks. Power Apps experts often use these methods to improve both appearance and usability:
Use custom components as building blocks. These components group multiple controls and formulas into reusable units. You can share them across screens and even different apps. This approach keeps your design consistent and saves time when you need to update your UI.
Adjust Display Mode settings to control how users interact with your form. For example, you can disable a button after submission to prevent double-clicks.
Add loading spinners to show users that the app is processing their request. This feedback reassures users and keeps them engaged.
Customize template fills in galleries or lists. Highlight selected items to make navigation clearer.
Use relative positioning to create layouts that adapt to different screen sizes. This ensures your form looks good on any device.
Integrate notification banners for success, error, or warning messages. These banners communicate important information without interrupting the workflow.
Build reusable controls like buttons and banners. This makes your app easier to maintain and keeps the design uniform.
Tip: Custom components and reusable controls not only improve the look of your forms but also make them easier to manage and scale as your app grows.
Conditional Formatting
Conditional formatting lets you change how your form looks based on user input or data values. This technique helps users spot errors, understand status, and feel confident about their entries.
Highlight invalid fields in red and valid ones in green. For example, if a user enters an incorrect date of birth, you can show a red border and a tooltip that says, “Please enter a valid date of birth.”
Use conditional formatting to change button or label colors based on status values like "Passed," "Failed," or "In-Progress." This visual feedback helps users track progress at a glance.
Color numeric scores based on thresholds. For example, scores below 50 appear red, while scores above 80 turn green.
Show emojis to represent status, such as ✅ for "Passed" or ❌ for "Failed." This adds a friendly touch and makes information easy to understand.
Combine conditional formatting with tooltips to give users instant feedback and helpful messages without cluttering the form.
Use progressive disclosure to reveal extra fields only when needed. This keeps your form clean and easy to use.
You can apply validation rules to ensure users enter correct data. Real-time feedback and visual cues reduce errors and help users complete forms faster. Many advanced power apps examples use these techniques to guide users and improve accuracy.
Custom Layouts and Containers
Custom layouts and containers give you full control over how your form looks and behaves. Containers are more than just groups—they have their own properties, such as width and border color, which help you design flexible and accessible layouts.
Containers help you organize related controls, making your app easier to navigate. They support responsive design by adjusting automatically for different devices. You can copy and reuse containers across screens, which saves time and keeps your UI consistent. Unlike simple groups, containers improve accessibility for screen readers and give you more control over layout and styling.
Note: When you use custom containers, you can quickly update the layout or style of grouped controls without affecting other parts of your app.
Performance Optimization
Advanced forms often include many controls, data sources, and custom logic. To keep your app fast and responsive, you need to optimize performance. Here are some proven techniques:
Minimize code in the OnStart property. Use App.Formulas for just-in-time execution so Power Apps only runs formulas when needed.
Use the Concurrent function to load multiple datasets at once. This speeds up data retrieval and reduces wait times.
Enable enhanced performance for hidden controls. This prevents Power Apps from rendering invisible elements, which improves load times.
Start with a low-dependency screen and remove unused screens. This reduces the resources your app needs at startup.
Limit cross-screen dependencies. This avoids loading unnecessary screens and controls.
Avoid excessive calls to Power Automate flows. Each call adds overhead, so batch operations when possible.
Use explicit column selection with ShowColumns to only retrieve necessary data. This reduces memory use and speeds up loading.
Batch Patch operations to update multiple records at once instead of one by one.
Cache frequently used data in collections and variables. This reduces repeated calls to your data source.
Write delegable formulas so the server handles data processing, not the client.
Use HTML text components to reduce the number of controls and improve rendering speed.
Enable DelayOutput on text input controls to avoid unnecessary data calls while users type.
Power Apps Performance Insights can help you spot slowdowns. It checks things like browser version, network speed, and customizations. Addressing these factors can improve load times and make your forms more responsive.
Common performance bottlenecks include too many controls on one screen, redundant data calls, and non-delegable queries. You can fix these by breaking up screens, batching data calls, and using filters or pagination. Avoid loading all data at once. Instead, use lazy loading and only load data when needed.
By applying these advanced techniques, you can build forms that look great, respond quickly, and scale easily. You give users a smooth experience, even in complex scenarios.
You have explored the journey from basic to advanced Power Apps forms, learning how to design modern, user-friendly solutions. By following these steps and best practices, you can create forms that look great and work well for everyone. Many organizations, such as Shell Global and Tacoma Public Schools, have seen real benefits from these design practices:
Experiment with both classic and modern controls to find what works best for your needs. Use tutorials to master advanced layouts, conditional formatting, and responsive design. Explore power apps tutorials, community forums, and official documentation for troubleshooting and new ideas. Resources like Microsoft Learn, Power Users Community, and SharePoint customization guides offer step-by-step tutorials, design tips, and performance best practices. You can also find tutorials on customizing SharePoint list forms, building advanced layouts, and integrating with SharePoint data sources. Many tutorials cover topics such as SharePoint integration, advanced form customization, and SharePoint gallery design. Tutorials on SharePoint form optimization and SharePoint accessibility help you build forms for all users. SharePoint tutorials also show how to use SharePoint data in advanced scenarios. Tutorials for SharePoint notifications, SharePoint deep linking, and SharePoint approvals are available. Tutorials on SharePoint event management and SharePoint onboarding streamline business processes. Tutorials for SharePoint leave management and SharePoint inventory management improve efficiency. Tutorials on SharePoint field service and SharePoint expense approvals support real-world needs. Tutorials for SharePoint asset management and SharePoint patient management demonstrate the power of modern forms. Tutorials on SharePoint reviews and SharePoint inspections show how to use mobile features. Tutorials for SharePoint employee onboarding and SharePoint workflow automation help you get started quickly.
Keep learning by joining the Power Users Community or exploring Microsoft Tech Community forums. These resources help you solve problems and stay updated on the latest Power Apps and SharePoint tutorials.
FAQ
How do you choose between classic and modern form controls?
You should pick modern controls for a quick, clean look. Choose classic controls if you want deep customization or a dark theme. Always match your choice to your app’s needs and your users’ preferences.
Can you make PowerApps forms responsive for mobile devices?
Yes, you can. Use containers and flexible width or height properties. Test your form on different devices. Responsive design ensures your form looks good and works well everywhere.
What is the best way to organize many fields in a form?
Group related fields into sections or tabs. Use clear labels for each group. This method helps users find information quickly and keeps your form easy to navigate.
How can you improve form performance in Power Apps?
Limit the number of controls on each screen. Use collections to cache data. Batch data operations when possible. These steps help your form load faster and run smoothly.
How do you add validation to PowerApps forms?
Set required fields and use validation formulas. Show error messages with tooltips or labels. Validation helps users enter correct data and reduces mistakes.