File path not found – The file path in the action is invalid or incorrectly referenced

In Power Automate, workflows often interact with files stored in SharePoint, OneDrive, Dataverse, Azure Blob Storage, or external services. When a flow encounters a “File Path Not Found” error, it typically means the specified file path is incorrect, missing, or inaccessible.

Error Message Example:
“File path not found: The specified path does not exist or is incorrect.”

This guide explains:
Why the “File Path Not Found” error occurs.
How to diagnose the issue.
How to fix incorrect file path references.

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Step 1: Understanding Common Causes of the “File Path Not Found” Error

Cause	Description
Incorrect file path format	The provided file path does not follow the correct syntax.
Folder structure changed	The file or folder has been renamed, moved, or deleted.
Dynamic file path error	The flow uses a variable that does not resolve to a valid path.
Insufficient permissions	The flow does not have permission to access the specified location.
File path too long	Some services have character limits for file paths.
File or folder not created yet	The flow is referencing a file before it exists.
Invalid characters in file path	Some services do not support special characters in file names or paths.

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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: pgsqlCopyEditFile path not found: The specified path does not exist or is incorrect.
5. Expand the action details to check:
   • The file path being referenced.
   • The error message for more details.
   • Any dynamic expressions used in the file path.

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Step 3: Fixing Common “File Path Not Found” Errors

3.1. Fix Incorrect File Path Format

Problem: The file path format is incorrect.

Solution:

• Ensure the path follows the correct format based on the service you are using.
• SharePoint Example: Use relative paths starting from “Shared Documents”:

/Shared Documents/Reports/AnnualReport.xlsx

• OneDrive Example: Use paths starting from the root folder:

/OneDrive/Invoices/Invoice_123.pdf

• Azure Blob Storage Example: Use container and blob names:

container-name/folder/file.pdf

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3.2. Fix Folder Structure Changes

Problem: The file or folder has been moved, renamed, or deleted.

Solution:

• Manually verify the path in SharePoint, OneDrive, or Azure.
• If the folder structure is dynamic, use the “List Files in Folder” action to retrieve the correct path dynamically.
• If the file was deleted, recreate it before the flow runs.

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3.3. Fix Dynamic File Path Issues

Problem: The flow uses a dynamic file path that is not resolving correctly.

Solution:

• Use the “Compose” action to debug the value of dynamic file paths.
• Example: Verify the output of a dynamic variable before using it in a file action.

concat('/Shared Documents/Invoices/', variables('FileName'), '.pdf')

• Ensure that variables and expressions return the correct path before passing them to a file action.

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3.4. Fix Insufficient Permissions

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

Solution:

• Check if the Power Automate connection has the correct permissions.
• If using SharePoint, grant Edit or Full Control permissions to the user or service account running the flow.
• If the file is on OneDrive, ensure it is shared with the correct permissions.

How to Check SharePoint Permissions:

1. Go to the SharePoint Document Library.
2. Click on the file or folder → Manage Access.
3. Ensure the Power Automate connection has Edit or Full Control access.
4. If needed, use the “Grant Access to an Item or Folder” action in Power Automate.

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3.5. Fix File Path Length Issues

Problem: The file path exceeds the service’s allowed length.

Solution:

• SharePoint file paths cannot exceed 400 characters.
• OneDrive has a 260-character limit for file paths.
• Shorten folder names or use abbreviations.

Example: Reducing Path Length

Too Long:

/Shared Documents/Company/Finance/2024/Reports/Quarterly/LongFileName_Annual_Report.xlsx

Optimized:

/Shared Documents/Finance/2024/Q1_Report.xlsx

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3.6. Fix Missing or Not Yet Created Files

Problem: The flow references a file before it exists.

Solution:

• Before writing to a file, use “Get File Properties” to check if it exists.
• If the file is missing, create a new file dynamically before writing data.
• Use a “Condition” action to check file existence before proceeding.

Example: Ensure File Exists Before Writing

1. “List Files in Folder” → Search for the file.
2. Condition: If file exists?
   • ✅ Yes: Write to file.
   • ❌ No: Create the file first, then write data.

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3.7. Fix Invalid Characters in File Path

Problem: Some special characters are not allowed in file names or paths.

Solution:

• Remove restricted characters (\ / : * ? " < > |) from file paths.
• Ensure file names are within the maximum allowed length (255 characters).
• Use replace expressions in Power Automate to clean up file paths:

replace(replace(replace(FilePath, '/', ''), '?', ''), '*', '')

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Step 4: Preventing Future “File Path Not Found” Errors

4.1. Best Practices to Avoid File Path Issues

✅ Use absolute paths instead of relying on dynamic values.
✅ Ensure permissions are set correctly for the file and folder.
✅ Check if the file exists before referencing it.
✅ Ensure the file path follows the correct format.
✅ Avoid exceeding file path length limits.
✅ Implement retry policies to handle temporary issues.

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Step 5: Set Up Alerts for File Path Errors

1. Open Power Automate → My Flows.
2. Click Edit Flow → Add a “Send an email” action if a file path is incorrect.
3. Configure the email to alert users about missing or incorrect file paths.