Invalid connection – The connection used in the flow is invalid or expired

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The “Invalid Connection” error in Power Automate occurs when a flow is using an expired or broken connection. This prevents actions from retrieving or sending data, causing the flow to fail.

Error Message:
"Invalid connection – The connection used in the flow is invalid or expired."

This issue can be caused by:

  • Expired or revoked authentication credentials
  • Changes in permissions or roles
  • Incorrect connection settings
  • Service outages affecting the connector

2. Common Causes and Fixes

CauseDescriptionFix
Expired Authentication TokenOAuth tokens expire and need reauthentication.Refresh or reauthenticate the connection.
Revoked or Changed CredentialsPasswords have changed or access has been revoked.Update the credentials and reconnect.
Insufficient PermissionsThe user no longer has access to the service.Grant the required permissions.
Service Outage or API RestrictionThe connected service is down or has exceeded limits.Check service status and API quotas.
Connector Configuration ErrorThe connection settings (e.g., URL, environment) are incorrect.Verify and update connection settings.

3. Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Step 1: Check the Connection Status

  1. Open Power Automate (https://flow.microsoft.com).
  2. Click on DataConnections from the left menu.
  3. Find the connection linked to the flow.
  4. If the connection shows Needs Attention or Invalid, click Fix Connection and reauthenticate.

Example Fix:

  • If the connection to SharePoint, SQL Server, or Dataverse has expired, sign in again.
  • If using OAuth authentication, refresh the token.

Step 2: Reauthenticate the Connection

  1. Click Fix Connection next to the affected connection.
  2. Sign in using the correct credentials.
  3. Click Save and Test the flow.

Example:

  • If a SharePoint connection fails, re-enter Microsoft 365 credentials.
  • If using a third-party API, ensure the API key or OAuth token is valid.

Step 3: Verify User Permissions

Some data sources require specific permissions to access data.

Check for permission changes:

  • Has the user been removed from a SharePoint site?
  • Has an admin revoked access to a SQL Server database?
  • Has a role been changed in Dataverse or Power BI?

Example Fix:

  • For SharePoint, ensure you have at least Edit permissions.
  • For SQL Server, ask the database administrator to grant access.

Step 4: Check for Service Outages

If the data source is experiencing downtime, your connection may fail.

How to check service status:

Example Fix:

  • If the service is down, wait for it to be restored.
  • If API limits are exceeded, reduce API calls or wait for the quota to reset.

Step 5: Verify Connector and Environment Settings

If the connection settings are incorrect, the flow will fail.

Check for errors like:

  • Wrong SharePoint site URL
  • Incorrect SQL Server database name
  • Mismatched Dataverse environment

Example Fix:

  1. Open Power Automate and edit the affected flow.
  2. Click on the failing action.
  3. Verify that the URL, credentials, and settings are correct.

Step 6: Recreate the Connection

If the connection remains invalid, delete and recreate it.

Steps to recreate the connection:

  1. Go to Power AutomateDataConnections.
  2. Find the affected connection.
  3. Click Delete and then + New Connection.
  4. Re-add the connection with updated credentials.

Example Fix:

  • If an SQL Server connection is invalid, remove it and re-add it.
  • If using OAuth authentication, ensure the token is refreshed.

Step 7: Test the Flow After Changes

  1. Click Save in Power Automate.
  2. Run a Test with sample data.
  3. If the error persists, check Run History for logs.

If the issue is resolved, ensure all users have updated access.

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