Displaying User Photos in Modern Lists and Libraries – Modern Settings
This is a simple little thing, but one I just couldn’t figure out for the longest time. When that happens, I like to fall on my sword in case it helps someone else.
One of my clients had a view like this in several of their lists – and yes, I’ve blurred the last names and faces.
I thought it looked great and just assumed they had gotten creative with JSON formatting. I finally asked how they had done it because that sort of surprised me.
Turns out, there’s a simple, out-of-the-box setting for this. The reason I’d never noticed it is because I’m so rooted in the classic settings for list columns. I usually go to List settings (or Library settings) and make changes to the columns there.
It turns out there also a modern column settings panel that gives us some new settings options, but not all of the classic settings options. So we sort of have to split our “settings mind” in two at the moment. I wasn’t even aware this modern setting panel was available. (I know, I should read every single update that comes from Microsoft, but that fire hose is a tough one to cope with.)
To get to the modern settings panel for a column, click on the dropdown in the column header / Column settings / Edit. Some of you may only use this approach now, I know.
This opens up a settings panel on the right of your screen (assuming your screen is big enough). And there’s the option: Show profile photos.
Easy-peasy – assuming you know where that setting is! As classic continues to fade into the sunset, I expect these modern settings panels will continue to have more goodies. If you look at More options at the bottom of the screen above, you won’t see all the settings you’re used to in the classic settings screen, but they are getting there.
I’ll be watching these modern settings panels for different column types to see how they evolve – when I can break myself of going to the classic settings pages.
By the way, the screen shots in this post came from some demos we are putting together for our workshop at the Microsoft 365 Conference in Las Vegas in December, 2021. Hope you can join us to find out what the elf is in charge of!