Access denied to flow resources – Insufficient permissions to access the resources needed by the flow

The “Access Denied to Flow Resources” error in Power Automate occurs when a flow lacks the necessary permissions to access a required resource (e.g., SharePoint, Dataverse, SQL, APIs, or cloud services).

Error Message:
"Access denied to flow resources – Insufficient permissions to access the resources needed by the flow."

This issue can be caused by:

• User does not have access to the required resource.
• Flow owner lacks permissions to a shared resource.
• Data source requires admin approval before use.
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies block access.
• Expired or incorrect credentials prevent authentication.

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2. Common Causes and Fixes

Cause	Description	Fix
User Lacks Resource Permissions	The user does not have access to the file, database, or API.	Request access from the resource owner or IT admin.
Flow Owner Doesn’t Have Permissions	If a different user created the flow, their permissions may be missing.	Ensure the flow owner has access to the resource.
Blocked by DLP Policies	Organizational security policies restrict access to certain services.	Ask an admin to modify DLP settings.
Expired or Invalid Credentials	The authentication token for the connection has expired.	Re-authenticate the connection in Power Automate.
Connector Requires Admin Approval	Some connectors need admin approval before use.	Contact the IT team for approval in the admin center.
External Sharing Restrictions	Some data sources block access from external organizations.	Ensure external sharing is enabled in the resource settings.

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3. Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Step 1: Verify User Permissions on the Resource

If the flow is trying to access SharePoint, SQL, OneDrive, Dataverse, or APIs, ensure the user has the required permissions.

Steps to fix:

1. Identify the resource being accessed (e.g., SharePoint site, SQL database, or API).
2. Contact the resource owner or IT administrator.
3. Request the necessary read/write permissions.

Example Fix:

• If the flow accesses a SharePoint list, ensure the user has “Edit” or “Full Control” permissions.

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Step 2: Ensure the Flow Owner Has Access to the Resource

If a flow runs under a different user’s credentials, it may lack the necessary permissions.

Steps to fix:

1. Open Power Automate → My Flows.
2. Click the flow in question.
3. Check the flow owner’s access to the data source.
4. If needed, add the owner as a user or contributor to the resource.

Example Fix:

• If a flow tries to retrieve Dataverse records, ensure the owner has at least “Basic User” permissions in Dataverse security roles.

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Step 3: Re-authenticate the Connection

If the connection token expired or the credentials changed, Power Automate may deny access.

Steps to fix:

1. Open Power Automate → Data → Connections.
2. Look for connections marked with an error (e.g., “Invalid” or “Fix Connection”).
3. Click Fix Connection, sign in again, and test the flow.

Example Fix:

• If a SQL Server connection expired, re-enter the database credentials and save the connection.

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Step 4: Check for Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Restrictions

Some organizations block certain connectors due to security policies.

Steps to check:

1. Open Power Automate Admin Center.
2. Navigate to Data Policies.
3. Check if the connector is in the Blocked or Restricted category.
4. If blocked, request an admin to update the DLP policy.

Example Fix:

• If your organization blocks Dropbox, request an admin to move it to the “Business” category in DLP settings.

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Step 5: Ensure the Connector is Approved by an Admin

Certain connectors (like Azure AD, SQL, or custom APIs) require admin approval before use.

Steps to fix:

1. Open Power Automate → Data → Connections.
2. Check if the connection shows “Requires Admin Approval”.
3. Contact your IT administrator to approve the connector in the Microsoft Admin Center.

Example Fix:

• If “HTTP with Azure AD” requires approval, ask an admin to enable it in the Azure portal.

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Step 6: Verify External Sharing Settings (For External Users)

If the flow tries to access data from another organization, sharing settings might be blocking access.

Steps to check:

1. Open Microsoft Admin Center → External Sharing Settings.
2. Ensure external users can access the SharePoint site, Teams, or Dataverse.
3. If restricted, request an admin to allow external access.

Example Fix:

• If a guest user cannot access a SharePoint library, enable external sharing in Microsoft 365 settings.