Power Automate is a powerful tool for automating workflows, but debugging flows can be challenging, especially when dealing with complex logic, failed actions, and API limitations.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Common errors in Power Automate
Debugging techniques
Using the “Run History” and logs
Error handling best practices
1. Common Errors in Power Automate
Before debugging, it’s important to recognize the most common errors:
Action Failed – An individual step within the flow encountered an issue.
Infinite Loops – The flow runs repeatedly due to misconfigured triggers.
Timeout Errors – The action exceeded its execution limit.
API Limits & Throttling – Too many requests sent within a short time.
Data Format Mismatch – JSON, date, or number formatting issues.
Connector Authentication Issues – Expired credentials or permissions.
2. Debugging Techniques in Power Automate
Step 1: Use “Run History” to Analyze Failures
1️⃣ Open Power Automate (flow.microsoft.com)
2️⃣ Select your flow
3️⃣ Click on “Run History”
4️⃣ Choose a failed run and expand the failed action
What to look for?
✔️ Error messages – Look for detailed error codes.
✔️ Input and output data – Check what data was sent and received.
✔️ Execution time – Helps identify delays or timeouts.
Tip: If an action failed due to missing data, check the previous step for issues.
Step 2: Use “Scope” for Better Error Visibility
The “Scope” action groups multiple steps together. When debugging:
✔️ Place critical steps inside a Scope.
✔️ If an error occurs, Power Automate shows which Scope failed.
✔️ Add an error-handling Scope for logging issues.
Example: Group all API calls into a single Scope and track if any fail.
Step 3: Enable “Configure Run After” for Error Handling
If an action fails, we can control what happens next using “Configure Run After”.
How to set it up?
1️⃣ Click the three dots on an action.
2️⃣ Select “Configure Run After”.
3️⃣ Choose when the next step runs:
- “Has Failed” – Only run if the previous step fails.
- “Has Timed Out” – Useful for long-running requests.
Example Use Case:
If an API call fails, send an email notification with error details.
Step 4: Use the “Compose” Action for Debugging
The “Compose” action is useful for:
✔️ Checking variable values mid-flow.
✔️ Capturing API responses before processing.
✔️ Debugging expressions before using them in conditions.
Example: Before inserting data into a database, use “Compose” to verify the formatting.
Step 5: Log Errors in SharePoint, Excel, or Dataverse
Instead of manually checking errors in Run History, store logs in a structured format.
Logging errors automatically:
✔️ Create a SharePoint list, Excel sheet, or Dataverse table for logs.
✔️ Use “Add a Row” action to save error details.
✔️ Capture timestamp, error message, and flow name.
Example:
If a flow fails, add a row to Excel with:
- Timestamp
- Action that failed
- Error message
Step 6: Use “Try, Catch, Finally” Pattern
Just like in programming, you can structure flows to handle errors gracefully.
1️⃣ TRY: Place main actions inside a Scope.
2️⃣ CATCH: Use another Scope for error handling (runs if “TRY” fails).
3️⃣ FINALLY: A final Scope to clean up resources or notify users.
Example:
- TRY → Call an API to fetch data
- CATCH → If API fails, log the error
- FINALLY → Send a success/failure email
Step 7: Check Flow Performance Using “Analytics”
To identify slow flows:
1️⃣ Go to Power Automate dashboard
2️⃣ Click on “Analytics” > “Flow Runs”
3️⃣ Identify long-running flows and optimize slow steps
Optimization Tips:
✔️ Use parallel branches to speed up execution.
✔️ Reduce unnecessary API calls or loops.
✔️ Use pagination for handling large data sets.
3. Best Practices for Debugging Power Automate Flows
✅ Use “Scope” to group actions and track failures.
✅ Enable “Configure Run After” for error handling.
✅ Log errors in SharePoint, Excel, or Dataverse for tracking.
✅ Use “Compose” to debug variable values.
✅ Implement “Try-Catch-Finally” for structured error handling.
✅ Check flow execution time in “Analytics” to improve performance.
4. Real-World Example: Debugging a Failed Flow
Scenario:
A company automates invoice approvals using Power Automate. The flow:
1️⃣ Triggers when an invoice is uploaded to SharePoint.
2️⃣ Calls an external API to extract invoice details.
3️⃣ Sends the invoice to Finance for approval.
Problem:
The flow fails intermittently at the API call step.
Debugging Process:
✔️ Checked Run History: Found an API timeout error.
✔️ Used Compose: Verified that the API request was formatted correctly.
✔️ Implemented Retry Policy: Adjusted the API action to retry up to 3 times.
✔️ Logged Errors: Stored failed API responses in Dataverse for review.
Result:
The flow is now more reliable, even if the API is temporarily slow.