How to import (upload) an entire folder of files to SharePoint using PowerShell

Note this example doesn’t handle folders within folders. There are also several “no-code” methods for uploading a whole folder structure (and files) to SharePoint.

1. Create a folder containing the files to upload to SharePoint

2. Locate the SharePoint library that you want to upload the files to, take note of the:

• Web URL
• Document library URL
• Document library name

3. Copy the following script to be run in a PowerShell window

if((Get-PSSnapin "Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell") -eq $null)
{
    Add-PSSnapin Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell
}

#Script settings

$webUrl = "http://vs-server12"

$docLibraryName = "Documents"
$docLibraryUrlName = "Shared%20Documents"

$localFolderPath = "C:\temp\Docs4SharePoint"

#Open web and library

$web = Get-SPWeb $webUrl

$docLibrary = $web.Lists[$docLibraryName]

$files = ([System.IO.DirectoryInfo] (Get-Item $localFolderPath)).GetFiles()

ForEach($file in $files)
{

    #Open file
    $fileStream = ([System.IO.FileInfo] (Get-Item $file.FullName)).OpenRead()

    #Add file
    $folder =  $web.getfolder($docLibraryUrlName)

    write-host "Copying file " $file.Name " to " $folder.ServerRelativeUrl "..."
    $spFile = $folder.Files.Add($folder.Url + "/" + $file.Name, [System.IO.Stream]$fileStream, $true)
    write-host "Success"

    #Close file stream
    $fileStream.Close();
}

#Dispose web

$web.Dispose()

4. Change the PowerShell variables at the top of the script to match your SharePoint upload destination and the location of the folder of files to upload

5. Run the PowerShell script, you should see progress of the uploaded files as shown below

6. After the script completes you should see all of the imported files in your SharePoint document library

Related articles

• SharePoint PowerShell How To: Create SharePoint List Items (in Root and in Folders) for Load/Performance Testing
• SharePoint PowerShell How To: Create SharePoint Test Documents in Library Folders for Load/Performance Testing
• SharePoint PowerShell How To: Create SharePoint Document Sets for Load/Performance Testing
• SharePoint PowerShell How To: Create SharePoint Library Folders for Load/Performance Testing
• How to import (upload) an entire folder of files to SharePoint using PowerShell