Debugging Canvas Apps with Monitor Tool: A Detailed Guide

Debugging is a crucial part of app development, especially in Power Apps Canvas Apps, where real-time tracking of events, errors, and performance issues can significantly improve troubleshooting. The Monitor tool in Power Apps is designed to help developers and makers gain insights into their apps by capturing events, network calls, errors, and performance bottlenecks.

This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step approach to using the Monitor Tool to debug Canvas Apps effectively.

📌 What is the Monitor Tool in Power Apps?

The Monitor tool is an in-built debugging utility in Power Apps that allows developers to:

View real-time network requests, data calls, and error messages.
Identify performance bottlenecks affecting app speed.
Troubleshoot delegation warnings and formula issues.
Analyze connectors and API calls made by the app.

The Monitor tool works live while your app is running, capturing data and helping diagnose potential issues.

🛠️ How to Open and Use the Monitor Tool

To use the Monitor tool, follow these step-by-step instructions:

Step 1: Open Power Apps Studio

Go to Power Apps.
Click on Apps from the left-side navigation panel.
Open the Canvas App you want to debug.

Step 2: Launch the Monitor Tool

In the Power Apps Studio, click on the Advanced Tools button.
Select Monitor from the dropdown list.

Alternatively:

Click on Settings (⚙️) > Upcoming Features > Preview and ensure that Monitor is enabled.
You can also use ALT + M as a shortcut.

A new tab will open with the Monitor tool interface.

🔍 Understanding the Monitor Tool Interface

Once the Monitor tool is open, you will see a real-time feed of events, each representing an interaction happening in your app.

Main Sections of the Monitor Tool

Section	Description
Event Name	Displays the name of the event (e.g., network call, formula execution).
Component Name	Shows which control or screen triggered the event.
Action	Describes the action (e.g., Data fetch, formula evaluation).
Details	Provides deep insights, including response times, errors, and API requests.

📌 Step-by-Step Debugging Using Monitor

Let’s go through different debugging scenarios and how you can use the Monitor tool to fix issues.

🔹 Scenario 1: Debugging Slow Performance

If your app is slow, the Monitor tool can help identify the cause.

Step 1: Run the App in Monitor Mode

Start the Monitor tool.
Click on Play in Power Apps Studio.
Interact with the app and perform slow actions.

Step 2: Analyze the Data

Look for long response times in API calls.
Identify repeated API calls that might be unnecessary.
Check for large data sets being loaded.

Step 3: Fix Performance Issues

Optimize formulas and remove redundant API calls.
Use delegation-friendly functions (e.g., Filter() instead of LookUp()).
Reduce data loading by using collections instead of direct data source calls.

🔹 Scenario 2: Debugging Errors

If an app is showing errors, Monitor can capture them.

Step 1: Run the App and Trigger the Error

Open Monitor and start recording.
Perform the action that causes the error.

Step 2: Identify the Error in Monitor

Look for events marked in red (indicating errors).
Check error details, including error code and message.

Step 3: Fix the Issue

If it’s a formula error, update the formula.
If it’s a data connection issue, check permissions and authentication.
If it’s an API error, verify the API request parameters.

🔹 Scenario 3: Debugging Data Source Issues

If your app is not fetching or updating data correctly, Monitor helps track data calls.

Step 1: Identify the Data Call

Open Monitor and trigger a data request (e.g., submit a form).
Look for events related to your data source (Dataverse, SharePoint, SQL, etc.).

Step 2: Analyze the Response

If the response contains errors, fix the data query.
If the response is slow, optimize queries (use indexed columns in SharePoint, optimize SQL queries, etc.).

Step 3: Implement Fixes

Use delegation-friendly queries.
Reduce the number of records fetched per request.
Improve data source performance (e.g., avoid using Filter() on large datasets).

🔹 Scenario 4: Debugging Delegation Warnings

Delegation warnings appear when Power Apps processes data locally instead of using the server, which can slow down performance.

Step 1: Identify Delegation Issues

Open the Monitor tool.
Look for warnings related to delegation.
Check which formula or data query caused it.

Step 2: Fix Delegation Issues

Modify queries to use delegation-supported functions.
Use Collections to store temporary data.
Reduce the amount of retrieved data.

📌 Collaboration & Sharing the Monitor Session

If you need help from other developers, you can share your Monitor session.

Step 1: Invite Collaborators

Click on the Share (🔗) button in the Monitor tool.
Copy the link and send it to a teammate.

They can now join the session and help analyze the issues in real-time.

📌 Advanced Debugging Features in Monitor

🔹 Export Logs for Analysis

Click Export to download logs and analyze them later.

🔹 Use Filters for Better Debugging

You can filter events by type (errors, warnings, network calls, etc.).

🔹 Capture Session Data

If an issue is hard to reproduce, keep the Monitor running until the error occurs.

🎯 Best Practices for Debugging with Monitor

Always use the Monitor tool before publishing your app.
Check network calls to avoid unnecessary API requests.
Reduce large data queries to improve app performance.
Fix delegation issues early to prevent performance problems.
Use Collections to store temporary data instead of making repeated calls.

📌 Conclusion

The Monitor tool in Power Apps is an essential debugging tool that helps troubleshoot errors, performance issues, delegation warnings, and API problems in real time. By using it effectively, developers can identify bottlenecks, optimize app performance, and resolve issues quickly.

Mastering the Monitor tool will make your Power Apps development more efficient, ensuring smooth and reliable applications for end users.

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