Require information for new files or list items

Make a column required in a list or library

You can change column settings in an existing list or library to require metadata. 

1. Navigate to the list or library where you want to make a required column.

2. In the All items or All documents view of the list or library, select the column name you want to make required, select Column settings, and then select Edit.

3. This opens the Details pane, scroll to the bottom, and then select More options.

4. Change the default value in Require that this column contains information radio box. Select the radio button image to switch the No value to Yes.
   
   This is now a required column.

5. Click Save.

Create a content type with a required column in SharePoint

1. Create a new site column with the require information setting enabled.

   1. Navigate to the site you want to create a content type in.

   2. Select Settings > Site Settings from the top right.

   3. On the Site Settings page, under Web Designer Galleries, select Site columns.

   4. On the Site Columns page, select Create.

   5. In the Name and Type section, type the name that you want in the Column name box.

   6. Select the type of information you want to store in the column.
      For more on column types, see Site column types and options.

      In the Group section, select the existing group in which to store the new site column or create a new group to store the column.

   7. In the Additional Column Settings section, select Yes in the Require that this information contains information.

      

      
      Optionally you can select additional column settings you want.

   8. Select OK.

2. Create a new content type based on the newly added column.

   1. Navigate to the site you want to create a content type in.

   2. Select Settings > Site Settings from the top right.

   3. On the Site Settings page, under Web Designer Galleries, select Site content types.

   4. On the Site Content types page, select Create.

   5. In the Name and Description type the name for your custom content type.

   6. Under Parent Content Type, select a parent, for example Document Content Types. Under the parent content type, select Document parent content type. 

      Finally, specify a group to put the content type into, such as Custom Content Types or Folder Content Types.

   7. Click OK.

   8.  On the Site Content Type page, select Add from existing site columns.

   9. Find and select the required site column you created earlier.

   10. Click OK.

3. Add a content type to a list or library.

See Add a content type to a list or library for the steps to enable content type at a list/library.

Content types enable you to organize and manage content and its attributes in a consistent way. Columns may be set up at this level to require the information as well. This implementation allows you to repurpose the content structure across lists/libraries to gain consistency in content quality and its management.

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Change an existing content type for a list or library