Filtering Views in Dynamics 365 and Power Apps

This article was updated to reflect current Dynamics 365 and Power Apps functionality.

This article is part of our complete guide to Views in Dynamics 365 and Power Apps.

👉 Read the full guide here.

Filters control which records appear in a view, making them one of the most powerful tools in Dynamics 365 and Power Apps. Whether you’re narrowing a list down slightly or building a highly targeted view, filtering helps you focus on exactly the data you need.

In this article, we’ll look at two ways to filter views:

  • Simple column filters
  • Advanced filters for more complex scenarios

Filtering Directly from a Column

The easiest way to filter data is directly from a column in the view.

For example, if you want to see only contacts that have an email address, you can:

  • Open the filter for the Email column
  • Choose a condition like Contains data

The results update immediately, showing only records that meet that condition.

Common filter options

The options you see depend on the type of field you’re filtering:

  • Text fields: Equals, Not equals, Contains data, Does not contain data
  • Number fields: Greater than, Less than, Equal to
  • Date fields: Before, After, On, or within a range

This makes quick, on-the-fly filtering very easy for end users.

Seeing How Filters Work Together

When you apply a column filter, it becomes part of the view’s overall filter logic.

You can see all active filters by opening Edit filters. This is especially helpful when:

  • You’re working with a system view that already has filters
  • You’ve applied multiple filters and want to understand the full logic

For example, an Active Contacts view already includes a filter where Status equals Active. Any new filters you add are combined with that existing logic.

Filtering on Fields That Aren’t in the View

Sometimes the field you want to filter on isn’t displayed as a column.

For example, you might want to:

  • Find contacts in a specific state
  • Create a list for a regional event or trade show

In this case, you can use advanced filters.

From the Edit filters area, you can:

  • Add a new filter row
  • Choose a related table if the data lives elsewhere

For Contacts, address information often lives on the related Account record. While this navigation isn’t always intuitive, it allows you to filter on related data like State/Province even when it’s not shown in the view.

Once applied, the view updates to show only the matching records.

Why Advanced Filters Are So Useful

Advanced filters allow you to:

  • Build highly targeted lists
  • Combine multiple conditions
  • Filter using related records without cluttering your view with extra columns

This is especially useful for temporary lists, outreach efforts, or operational tasks where precision matters.

Final Thoughts

Filtering turns views from simple lists into powerful working tools. By combining:

  • The right columns
  • Logical sorting
  • Smart filters

…you can answer questions and take action directly from a view, without opening individual records.

Once you’re comfortable using both column filters and advanced filters, you’ll be able to shape your data exactly the way you need it.

If you’d like help designing views that support real-world scenarios in Dynamics 365 and Power Apps, P2 Automation can help. Visit www.p2automation.com to learn more.

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