How to Create a Document Library in SharePoint Online? 5 Ways

SharePoint popularity is increasing at an alarming rate because of its latest and most advanced features.  However, users heavily rely on one of its older, well-known features—the document library.  SharePoint offers multiple options to create document libraries for data management. But not knowing how to create a document library in SharePoint Online means missing out on one of SharePoint’s most crucial features.

In this article, we will discuss how to create document libraries using numerous methods. So, let’s start discussing.

Types of Document Libraries in SharePoint

Document libraries in SharePoint Online act as a specialized repository for storing files. SharePoint provides various types of libraries as per use cases.

1. Document Library – This library is used to store and manage documents such as Word files, PDFs, Excel sheets, and more. It tracks the version history of document changes. It also allows other users to perform collaboration.
2. Picture Library – All types of images are stored in this library. It preserves the metadata tagging for images and thumbnails. Easily manage multiple types of files including JPG, PNG, and GIF. It simplifies the process of displaying images on websites.
3. Form Library – Multiple forms are created in SharePoint to collect feedback or suggestions. This library stored XMP-based forms. 
4. Asset Library – This library is used to store site-related data. It includes audio, video, and images as well. Highly used for managing videos on SharePoint sites. 
5. Record Library – This library acts as a record management. It stores the records for compliance purposes. Also, acts as an archived solution to store audit logs and previous versions of documents.
6. Process Diagram Library – For managing the business process diagrams, the Process diagram library is heavily used. It stores and manages the flowcharts and business workflows.
7. Translation Management Library – This library stores the translated documents. It tracks the relationship between source and translated files. 

How to Create a Document Library in SharePoint Online – 5 Methods

For creating the document libraries in SharePoint Online, you can use several methods. Here we will deep dive into all of them. So that you can choose the best fit as per your expertise in SharePoint. You can use SharePoint admin center steps, PowerShell commands, and the Power Automate method. Let’s explore all of them in a detailed manner.

Method 1. How to Make a New Document Library in SharePoint Online?

One of the simple ways is to go to the site where you want to add the document library. Then follow the below steps to get the answer to your query on how to create a document library in SharePoint Online from a blank library.

1. Open the Site’s homepage, and click on the New option.
2. Choose Document Library > Blank Library.
3. Choose a name and description for the document library.
4. Finally, hit the Create button to create the document library.

Method 2. Create a New Document Library From an Existing SharePoint Library

If you want to create a document library from the existing one, then you can go with the below steps.

1. Move to the Homepage of the SharePoint site > New.
2. Select the option of Document Library > From Existing Library.
3. Now from the opened screen, choose the SharePoint site and the document library that you want to copy.
4. After that hit the Next button, and allocate a necessary name and description of the created document library.
5. Lastly, hit on the Create button to create a second document library.

Method 3. Create Document Library Using Templates in SharePoint Online

SharePoint provides inbuilt templates for document libraries. You can also use them to create a document library in SharePoint Online if required. But do not forget to implement the SharePoint document management best practices while creating a new one.

1. After choosing the Document Library option from the Site’s homepage.
2. Select the Template that you want to use.
3. From the next screen, you can see the preview of the template. Choose the Use Template option.
4. Select a suitable name for the document library.
5. You can also choose the additional features if required or also skip them.

Method 4. How to Create a Document Library in SharePoint Online with the Help of PowerShell Commands?

If you are a PowerShell enthusiast and always want to automate the tasks through the scripts. Then this method will be best suited for you. Execute the below commands but remember to follow them sequentially to get the expected results.

#Import SharePoint Online PowerShell Module
Import-Module Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell -DisableNameChecking

Function Create-New-DocumentLibrary()
{
param
(
[Parameter(Mandatory=$true)] [string] $URL_ofSite,
[Parameter(Mandatory=$true)] [string] $DocLibName
)
Try {
$Cred = Get-Credential

$Ctx = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.ClientContext($URL_ofSite)
$Ctx.Credentials = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.SharePointOnlineCredentials($Cred.UserName,$Cred.Password)

$Lists = $Ctx.Web.Lists
$Ctx.Load($Lists)
$Ctx.ExecuteQuery()

if(!($Lists.Title -contains $DocLibName))
{

$List-Info = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.ListCreationInformation
$List-Info.Title = $DocLibName
$List-Info.TemplateType = 101
$List = $Ctx.Web.Lists.Add($List-Info)
$List.Update()
$Ctx.ExecuteQuery()

write-host -f Green "Your New SharePoint Document Library is created to use!"
}
else
{
Write-Host -f Yellow "List or Library '$DocLibName' already exists in SharePoint site!"
}
}
Catch {
write-host -f Red "Error while Creating the Document Library!" $_.Exception.Message
}
}

$URL_ofSite= "complete URL"
$DocLibName="Sales"

Create-New-DocumentLibrary -URL_ofSite $URL_ofSite -DocLibName $DoctLibName

Method 5. How to Create a New Document Library in SharePoint Online Using Power Automate?

Suppose you are comfortable with Power Automate and have previous experience performing tasks using it. Then below are quick steps that can create the document library.

1. Open the MS Power Automate.
2. Create a new Power Automate workflow.
3. Choose Action as Send an HTTP request to SharePoint.
4. Provide the required details such as:-
Site Address – > URL of SharePoint site..
Method -> POST
Uri -> _api/web/lists
Header -> content-type
Headers Value: application/json;odata=verbose
Body: {
“BaseTemplate”: 101,
“Description”: “This is a SharePoint Document Library for storing documents related to our clients.”,
“Title”: “Client Documents”
}
5. Click on the Test Flow > I‘ll perform the trigger action and hit Test.
6. Hit on Continue and then verify the document library from the SharePoint site.

How to Create Multiple Document Libraries in SharePoint Online?

All the above methods can create a single document library. But for creating multiple document libraries the steps need to be executed repeatedly. So, to avoid the repetition of the steps, you can use the below script to create multiple document libraries in SharePoint Online in an automated way.

#Load SharePoint CSOM Assemblies
Add-Type -Path "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\16\ISAPI\Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.dll"
Add-Type -Path "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\16\ISAPI\Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.Runtime.dll"

Function Create-Multiple-DocumentLibraries()
{

[cmdletbinding()]

param
(
[Parameter(Mandatory=$True,ValueFromPipeline)] [String[]] $NamesofLibrary,
[Parameter(Mandatory=$False)] [String] $Desc
)
Try {

ForEach($NameofLibrary in $NamesofLibrary)
{
Write-host -f Yellow "`nEnsuring Document Library '$NameofLibrary'"

$Lists = $Web.Lists
$Ctx.Load($Lists)
$Ctx.ExecuteQuery()

If(!($Lists.Title -contains $NameofLibrary))
{
#Create a new Document Library
$ListInfo = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.ListCreationInformation
$ListInfo.Title = $NameofLibrary
$ListInfo.Description = $Desc
$ListInfo.TemplateType = [Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.ListTemplateType]::DocumentLibrary
$Web.Lists.Add($ListInfo) | Out-Null
$Ctx.ExecuteQuery()

write-host -f Green "`tNew Document Library is ready to use!"
}
Else
{
Write-Host -f Magenta "`t this named document library already exists, choose another name!"
}
}
}
Catch {
write-host -f Red "`tError:" $_.Exception.Message
}
}
$URLofSite= "complete site URL"

$Cred = Get-Credential

$Ctx = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.ClientContext($URLofSite)
$Ctx.Credentials = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.SharePointOnlineCredentials($Cred.Username, $Cred.Password)

$Web = $Ctx.web
$Ctx.Load($Web)
$Ctx.executeQuery()

Create-Multiple-DocumentLibraries -NamesofLibrary @("Document Library Sales", "Document Library Invoice", "Document Library TechProject", "Document Library Employee_Details")

Is Migration of Document Libraries Possible?

Yes, if your organization wants to perform SharePoint migration and you as an administrator, are unaware of the fact that the document libraries can also migrated. So, don’t fret you can copy document library to another SharePoint site using the SharePoint Migrator. This tool not only migrates the SharePoint document libraries but also the sites and lists as well. It can accomplish the complete migration process with the 5 simple steps and these are.

Download Now Purchase Now

1. Installation of the tool.
2. Finalizing the Source and Destination platforms.
3. Select Sites and their associated document libraries.
4. Completing the details of both platforms.
5. Fetch Sites and Users. Finally, start migration.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explained the different methods to create document libraries in SharePoint. Now you can choose any of the methods as per your technical expertise. Make sure the chosen method is performed in the correct way to get the right results. Hence the query on how to create a document library in SharePoint Online has been resolved.