Power Automate connects to various services and data sources to automate workflows. However, sometimes an action fails to connect, causing the flow to break with the following error:
“Action failed to connect – The action couldn’t connect to the target service or data source.”
This error occurs when Power Automate is unable to establish a connection to the service (e.g., SharePoint, SQL, Dataverse, APIs).
2. Causes of “Action Failed to Connect” Error
Several factors can lead to connection failures in Power Automate:
- Invalid or Expired Credentials – The authentication token may be expired or incorrect.
- Revoked Permissions – The user account lacks the required access to the data source.
- Service Outage or Maintenance – The target service (e.g., SharePoint, SQL Server) may be down.
- Network or Firewall Restrictions – The connection is blocked by security settings.
- Incorrect Connection Settings – The configuration details (e.g., API keys, URLs) may be incorrect.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Issues – Some services require MFA, which may cause failures.
- API Rate Limits – The connected service may be throttling requests.
- Incorrect Power Automate Plan – Some connectors require a premium plan.
- On-Premises Data Gateway Issues – If using an on-premises data gateway, it may be offline.
- Microsoft Service Throttling – Too many requests from Power Automate may trigger throttling limits.
3. Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Step 1: Identify the Failing Action
- Open Power Automate (https://flow.microsoft.com).
- Navigate to My Flows and select the affected flow.
- Click Run History and locate the failed run.
- Expand the failed action and check the error message.
Solution:
- Note the error details to determine the cause (e.g., authentication failure, timeout, permissions issue).
Step 2: Reauthenticate the Connection
If the action failed due to authentication issues, try reconnecting the service.
Solution:
- Go to Power Automate > Data > Connections.
- Locate the failing connection and check for a yellow warning icon.
- Click Edit Connection and re-enter credentials.
- Click Save and Test the Flow again.
Example for Reconnecting a SharePoint Connection:
- If the SharePoint Online action failed, open Connections, find SharePoint, and click Fix Connection.
Step 3: Check Service Availability
If the service is temporarily unavailable, wait for Microsoft or the service provider to resolve the issue.
Solution:
- Check Microsoft 365 Service Status: https://status.office365.com
- Check the target service’s status page (e.g., Azure, SQL Server, third-party APIs).
- If there’s an outage, wait and retry later.
Example:
- If Dataverse (PowerApps) is down, flows relying on Dataverse may fail to connect.
Step 4: Verify User Permissions
The flow may fail if the user account does not have permission to access the target service.
Solution:
- Open the target service (e.g., SharePoint, SQL Server).
- Check if the flow’s account has the required permissions.
- If using OAuth-based authentication, ensure the correct scope is granted.
- Test access by logging in separately to the service.
Example:
- If connecting to SharePoint Online, ensure the user has Contribute or Full Control permissions.
Step 5: Check for Expired or Invalid Tokens
Power Automate uses OAuth tokens for many services. If the token expires, the connection fails.
Solution:
- Go to Power Automate > Connections.
- Check if the connection is marked expired.
- Click Reauthorize to refresh the token.
Example:
- If using Microsoft Dataverse, an expired token may cause SQL or API actions to fail.
Step 6: Verify API Rate Limits and Throttling
Some services (e.g., SharePoint, Microsoft Graph, external APIs) limit requests per minute.
Solution:
- Check the service’s API documentation for rate limits.
- Add a “Delay” action before making multiple requests.
- Reduce the number of API calls in the flow.
Example:
- Microsoft Graph API limits some operations to 4,000 requests per hour. If exceeded, requests fail.
Step 7: Verify Firewall and Network Settings
If connecting to on-premises resources, firewall rules may block Power Automate.
Solution:
- If using an on-premises data gateway, ensure it is online and properly configured.
- Check firewall logs to confirm Power Automate traffic is allowed.
- Whitelist Power Automate IP ranges if required (Microsoft documentation).
Example:
- If connecting to an on-prem SQL Server, verify the gateway status in Power Automate.
Step 8: Check for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Issues
Some services require MFA, which may block automated connections.
Solution:
- Use App Passwords if the service supports it.
- If using Azure AD Conditional Access Policies, ensure Power Automate connections are allowed.
- Consider Service Principal authentication for long-running flows.
Example:
- If using SharePoint Online, MFA may prevent automated sign-ins. Use an App Password instead.
Step 9: Ensure the Correct Plan Is Used
Some connectors require a premium license to function.
Solution:
- Open the flow and check if it uses Premium Connectors (indicated by a diamond icon).
- If a premium connector is used, ensure the account has a Power Automate premium license.
Example:
- SQL Server, Dataverse, and HTTP actions require a Power Automate Premium Plan.
Step 10: Recreate the Connection or Flow
If all else fails, try deleting and recreating the connection.
Solution:
- Go to Power Automate > Connections.
- Delete the failing connection.
- Recreate it from scratch.
- Update the flow to use the new connection.
Example:
- If an API connection fails, remove the HTTP connection and set it up again.
4. Preventative Measures
To prevent “Action Failed to Connect” errors in the future:
✔ Regularly refresh authentication tokens.
✔ Monitor Microsoft service status before troubleshooting.
✔ Use retry policies in flow actions.
✔ Optimize API requests to avoid rate limits.
✔ Ensure correct firewall and network settings.
✔ Check user permissions and required roles.
✔ Upgrade to a premium plan if using premium connectors.