File download failed – Issues downloading a file from the specified location

Power Automate enables file downloads from SharePoint, OneDrive, Dataverse, Azure Blob Storage, and other cloud services. However, sometimes the flow fails to download a file, leading to errors such as:

“File download failed: Unable to retrieve the file from the specified location.”

This guide explains:
Why the “File Download Failed” error occurs.
How to diagnose the issue.
How to fix common file download problems.

---

Step 1: Understanding Common Causes of the “File Download Failed” Error

Cause	Description
Incorrect file path	The file path is incorrect or does not exist.
File was deleted or moved	The file existed but was removed before the flow ran.
Insufficient permissions	The flow does not have permission to access the file.
File size exceeds download limits	Some services have maximum file size restrictions.
Incorrect URL format	The file URL is malformed or expired.
Network or API rate limits	Connectivity issues or service limits prevent the download.
File extension missing or unsupported	Some actions require the correct file format.
The folder path does not exist	The flow is searching in a folder that does not exist.

---

Step 2: Diagnosing the Issue

2.1. Check the Flow Run History

1. Open Power Automate (https://make.powerautomate.com).
2. Click on My Flows → Select the affected flow.
3. Go to Run History → Open a failed run.
4. Look for an error message like: File download failed: The specified file does not exist.
5. Expand the action details to check:
   • File path or URL used in the flow.
   • Dynamic content values (ensure the file reference is populated).
   • API response or error details.

---

Step 3: Fixing Common “File Download Failed” Errors

3.1. Fix Incorrect File Path Issues

Problem: The file path used in the flow is incorrect or does not exist.

Solution:

• Double-check the file path. Ensure it includes folders, subfolders, and the correct filename.
• If using SharePoint, ensure the path includes the document library.

Example: Correct SharePoint Path Format

/Shared Documents/Reports/AnnualReport.pdf

Use absolute paths instead of dynamic paths when possible.

---

3.2. Handle Files That Were Deleted or Moved

Problem: The file was deleted or moved before the flow executed.

Solution:

• Check the file location manually in SharePoint, OneDrive, or other storage services.
• If the file was moved, update the flow to use the new location.
• If the file is missing, use a condition in Power Automate to check for file existence before attempting to download.

Example: Use “Get File Properties” Before Downloading a File

1. Add a “Get File Properties” action.
2. Use Condition to check: If "ID" is not empty → Proceed with file download. Else → Send an email alert.

---

3.3. Fix Insufficient Permissions Issues

Problem: The flow does not have permission to access the file.

Solution:

• Ensure the user or service account running the flow has at least Read permissions on the file.
• If the flow is using a connection, try re-authenticating:
  1. Open Power Automate → Data > Connections.
  2. Find the SharePoint, OneDrive, or other storage connection.
  3. Click Reconnect.

---

3.4. Fix File Size Exceeds Limits

Problem: Some services have download size limits that prevent large file downloads.

Solution:

Service	Max File Download Size (Standard Plan)	Max File Download Size (Premium Plan)
SharePoint	250 MB	15 GB
OneDrive	250 MB	15 GB
Dataverse	128 MB	512 MB
Azure Blob Storage	5 TB	5 TB

• Split large files into smaller parts before downloading.
• Use Azure Blob Storage for downloading very large files.
• Enable chunked downloads if supported by the API.

---

3.5. Fix Incorrect URL Format Issues

Problem: Some download actions require a properly formatted URL.

Solution:

• Ensure the URL is not expired (some temporary URLs expire after a few minutes).
• Use URI encoding to fix special characters in URLs:

encodeUriComponent(triggerOutputs()?['body/DownloadUrl'])

• If using SharePoint, convert the file path to a direct download URL:

concat('https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/YourSite/_layouts/15/download.aspx?SourceUrl=', encodeUriComponent(FilePath))

---

3.6. Fix Network or API Rate Limits

Problem: Power Automate and cloud services have request limits. If exceeded, downloads may fail.

Solution:

• Use Retry Policies in Power Automate:
  • Open “Download File” action → Click Settings → Enable Retry Policy.
• Add a delay between requests:
  • Insert a “Delay” action for 5-10 seconds between file downloads.

---

3.7. Fix Missing File Extension Issues

Problem: Some file download actions require a specific file extension.

Solution:

• Ensure the file has the correct extension (e.g., .pdf, .xlsx).
• If the file extension is missing, append it dynamically:

concat(triggerOutputs()?['body/FileName'], '.pdf')

This ensures that Power Automate searches for the correct file format.

---

3.8. Ensure the Folder Path Exists

Problem: The flow is looking for a file in a folder that no longer exists.

Solution:

• Before downloading a file, use the “List Folder” action to check if the folder exists.
• If the folder does not exist, create it dynamically before proceeding.

Example: Create a Folder if It Doesn’t Exist

1. Use “List Folder” to check if the folder exists.
2. If “Folder Path” is empty, create a new folder before proceeding.

---

Step 4: Preventing Future “File Download Failed” Errors

4.1. Best Practices to Avoid File Download Issues

✅ Use absolute paths instead of relying on dynamic values.
✅ Validate file URLs before downloading.
✅ Ensure the flow has the correct permissions to access storage.
✅ Use retry policies to handle API rate limits.
✅ Monitor and log missing files instead of allowing the flow to fail.

4.2. Set Up Alerts for Failed Downloads

1. Open Power Automate → My Flows.
2. Click Edit Flow → Add a “Send an email” action if the file fails to download.
3. Configure the email to alert users about failed downloads.