Set a Default Value for a Dropdown Menu in Power Apps/Dynamics 365 (Model-driven and Canvas Apps)

In most modern apps, it’s common to need to set a default choice in a dropdown menu. But how can you do this in Power Apps/Dynamics 365? The answer is different whether you’re building a Model-driven app or a Canvas app.

In this hands-on tutorial, I’ll show you my simple datasource setup in Dataverse, and then how you can easily set the default choice if you’re using a Model-driven app. For a Canvas app, we’ll need to do a little bit more work, but I’ll show you two options to make it happen.

00:00 – Overviewing the problem we’re trying to solve, needing a default choice in our dropdown
00:33 – Reviewing my datasource setup with a table and column in Dataverse
01:03 - Setting the default choice on a Choice/OptionSet datatype in Dataverse (but it might not do what you think!)
01:22 – Setting the default choice for a dropdown in a Model-driven Power App
01:44 – Overviewing the parts of the Canvas App we’re working with
02:13 – Unlocking the Datacard that contains the dropdown control
03:07 – OPTION 1: Hard-coding the value of DefaultSelectedItems on the dropdown control in a Canvas App
03:57 – OPTION 2: Setting the value of DefaultSelectedItems using the Choices function in a Canvas App
05:56 – Real-world tips: Checking that the user actually selected something from the dropdown
08:50 – Recapping how to set the default choice for the dropdown

[TinyTechnicalTutorials]

What else do you want to learn in Power Apps? Let me know below in the comments!

[RD-Man]

Thank you for helping solve my issue with the default drop down. You are the only one I found that deals with this real world scenario of integrating with the dataverse.

[kanchanc]

This was so quick and simple, thanks a ton!

[oPrussiano]

Thanks for the help, was almost losing my mind here!

[NivPetrol]

so clear and to the point, I am loving it!

[berggrog]

Nicely explained, I found your video on another subject but glad I found you. Thanks for sharing!

[dandrem.]

Thank you so much! I was struggling to have the choice columns default to one of the selectable items.

[GuardiansFortress-rrtu]

Have you done a video on setting a default value for a lookup column in a model driven app?

[KevinAyalared]

Thanks a lot im a begineer in power apps and this is very helpeful

[shancong]

Thank you so much! you helped me a lot!

[fyrearm]

What if your DataSource is a collection? I'm still trying to figure out how to set a default or even set the value manually. They removed Default property as well from the dropdown control, in the modern control.

[GraemesAdventures]

Great, thanks. I really appreciated the bit about customising error messages. In one of my apps, users frequently miss entering dates because the date picker has a grey font 'tool tip' date entered. I've now got an error message for this.

[pikachickfarm]

Hi! Do you have a way to show the manager of current logged in User as default value of a lookup field to Users? Thank you!

[longlivebytor]

I come from a web/windows app development background, so learning Power Apps has been an interesting journey. What I'm currently struggling with is determining how to set a selection in a drop-down with an expression (for example, in the onSelect event of a button). Is this possible? If so, I would love to see that covered.

[jnvc]

Not a dropdown control, but a combobox. I have dropdown with hard coded items. I want the default selected value of the dropdown to change based on a value from a text box (result of a de concatenate formula) how do i do that?

What if you do not have a default value in your choice options?

Shall I add for DefaultSelectedItem a simple FX function With({x:Choices('Event Type Choices')}, ForAll(Sequence(CountRows(x)+1), {Value:If(Value=1, "--Please select--", Last(FirstN(x, Value-1)).Value)})) or just use NoselectionText property of dropdown and add "--Please select'--" value? What option can be used on model-driven form apart from Business rule where you can add a recommendation to hover over the --- to select a choice or add a component with the Option set? Do you know wow can make the dropdown field on model driven app's Form onFocus by default, do I need to add JS component?

Thank TTT :)

[kellyliu]

Hello Thank you for the very useful video! Actually I have problem with Model Driven for the dropdown.
First, there is no dropdown option in the Insert Input for custom page for Model Driven, right?
Second, when I have to copy a dropdown from a Choices linked dropdown over another area in the custom page(Model Driven), I want to set this copied dropdown Default to according to clicking of each item inside a gallery, the formula below is not working in Model Driven. But for Canvas real dropdown the formula works well. Do you know what's the issue is?
dropdown Default: Name'

[remisalome]

that is a combobox not a dropdown box ...

[IndiaZindabadh]

Hi, Currently I am working on canvas app i am using dropdown in it, and loading the second dropdown based on data selection of first dropdown using filter function, but the issue is data is loading in second dropdown but some data/items is missing based on first dropdown selection...any suggestions?

Distinct(Filter(Awards, 'Award type'=ddl_AwardType.Selected.Value), Cycle)...this is function details