The “Connection Quota Exceeded” error in Power Automate occurs when a flow attempts to create too many concurrent connections to a data source, exceeding the allowed quota.
Error Message:
"Connection quota exceeded – Too many concurrent connections to the data source."
This issue is typically caused by:
- Multiple flows or actions accessing the same data source at the same time
- Too many parallel operations running in a single flow
- High-frequency triggers overwhelming the connection limit
- Service provider-imposed limits on concurrent connections
2. Common Causes and Fixes
| Cause | Description | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Too Many Concurrent Flows | Multiple flows accessing the same data source simultaneously. | Schedule flows to run at different times. |
| Parallelism in “Apply to Each” Loops | Power Automate executes multiple actions in parallel. | Disable parallelism in the loop settings. |
| Frequent Flow Triggers | Flows triggering too often create excessive connections. | Increase trigger intervals or add conditions. |
| Connector Limitations | Some connectors (e.g., SharePoint, SQL) have concurrent session limits. | Reduce simultaneous queries and optimize actions. |
| Large Data Requests | Too many requests fetching large datasets. | Use pagination and filter queries to minimize load. |
3. Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Step 1: Identify Connection Limits for the Data Source
Each data source (e.g., SharePoint, SQL Server, Dataverse, etc.) has a maximum number of concurrent connections allowed.
How to check connection limits:
- Microsoft APIs & Power Platform Limits: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/api-request-limits-allocations
- Third-party APIs: Check the service provider’s documentation for connection quotas.
Example Fix:
- SQL Server allows maximum concurrent sessions based on database settings. If exceeded, adjust query execution plans.
Step 2: Reduce Simultaneous Flow Executions
If multiple flows access the same data source at the same time, the connection limit may be exceeded.
Steps to fix:
- Open Power Automate.
- Check the flow history to see how often it runs.
- If running too frequently, increase the interval in the trigger settings.
- Consider staggering execution times of multiple flows.
Example Fix:
- If five flows run every minute querying SharePoint, modify schedules so they run every 5-10 minutes instead.
Step 3: Disable Parallelism in “Apply to Each” Loops
Power Automate processes loops in parallel by default, which can quickly exhaust connections.
Steps to fix:
- Open the flow.
- Locate the “Apply to Each” loop.
- Click on Settings → Turn off Concurrency Control.
- Save the changes and test the flow.
Example Fix:
- If a loop calls an API multiple times in parallel, disabling parallelism ensures each call completes before the next starts.
Step 4: Optimize Data Retrieval to Reduce Load
If a flow retrieves too much data at once, it can create excessive connections.
Steps to fix:
- Use filters to limit query results.
- Enable pagination to fetch data in chunks.
- Avoid “Get all records” unless necessary.
Example Fix:
Instead of:
Filter(SharePointList, Status = "Active")
Use delegation-friendly queries like Search or Lookup for better performance.
Step 5: Add Delays Between Actions to Spread Requests
If the flow makes too many requests at the same time, adding delays can help prevent hitting connection limits.
Steps to fix:
- Open Power Automate.
- Click Add Action → Delay before the action that fails.
- Set a delay of 5-10 seconds (adjust as needed).
Example Fix:
- Instead of sending 100 requests in 1 second, add a 5-second delay between each batch of requests.
Step 6: Use a Retry Policy for Temporary Quota Limits
If the quota resets after some time, retrying the action can help avoid failures.
Steps to enable retry policy:
- Open Power Automate.
- Click on the failing action.
- Go to Settings → Retry Policy.
- Set it to Exponential Backoff to gradually increase retry intervals.
Example Fix:
- If the SQL Server connection fails, enable retries instead of immediately failing the flow.
Step 7: Upgrade Plan or Increase Quota (If Available)
Some Power Platform licenses and third-party services impose strict connection limits. If limits are frequently exceeded, an upgrade may be necessary.
Steps to check quota usage:
- Log into Power Automate Admin Center and review API request limits.
- For third-party APIs, check account limits and upgrade plans if needed.
Example Fix:
- If using Dataverse API, upgrading to a higher-tier Power Platform plan provides more connections per user.