The “Recurrence” trigger in Power Automate is used to schedule flows at specified intervals (e.g., every hour, daily, weekly). However, you may encounter the following error:
“Recurrence trigger configuration error – Errors in setting the recurrence or schedule.”
This error indicates that there is a problem with how the recurrence trigger is configured, which prevents the flow from executing as scheduled.
2. Causes of “Recurrence Trigger Configuration Error”
Several factors can cause this error:
- Invalid Time Zone Selection – The chosen time zone may be incorrect or unsupported.
- Incorrect Frequency Setting – The recurrence interval is not properly configured.
- Invalid Start Time Format – The start time may not follow the correct format (ISO 8601).
- Conflicts Between Frequency and Interval – The interval may be too low or too high for the selected frequency.
- Service Limitations or Restrictions – Power Automate has limits on scheduled flow executions based on the plan.
- Unsupported or Missing Parameters – Required fields for the recurrence trigger may be missing or improperly configured.
- Regional Settings Mismatch – The time settings may not align with the user’s regional settings.
- Microsoft Service Outage – Temporary service issues with Power Automate may prevent recurrence triggers from executing.
- Flow Disabled or Not Saved – The flow may be disabled or not properly saved after configuration changes.
- Trigger Conditions Prevent Execution – If trigger conditions are added, the recurrence may not execute as expected.
3. Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Step 1: Check Flow Run History for Errors
- Open Power Automate (https://flow.microsoft.com).
- Navigate to My Flows and find the affected flow.
- Click Run History to check if the flow has been executing.
- If the flow failed, look for an error message in the Recurrence trigger step.
Solution:
- If an error is displayed, use the details to identify and correct the issue.
Step 2: Verify the Recurrence Frequency and Interval
- Open the flow and locate the Recurrence trigger.
- Check the Frequency (e.g., “Minute”, “Hour”, “Day”, “Week”, “Month”).
- Verify that the Interval value is appropriate for the selected frequency.
Correct Configuration Examples:
| Frequency | Interval | Example Execution Time |
|---|---|---|
| Minute | 15 | Every 15 minutes |
| Hour | 1 | Every hour |
| Day | 1 | Once per day |
| Week | 1 | Every week on Monday |
| Month | 1 | Every month on the 1st |
Incorrect Examples (Causing Errors):
- Frequency: Minute, Interval: 0 (Invalid interval)
- Frequency: Week, Interval: 10 (Exceeds limit)
- Frequency: Month, Interval: 0.5 (Decimals not allowed)
Solution:
- Set a valid interval that aligns with the selected frequency.
Step 3: Ensure the Time Zone Is Correct
- Click the Show advanced options under the Recurrence trigger.
- Verify that the Time Zone is correctly selected.
Correct Example:
- Time Zone: “(UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)”
Incorrect Example:
- Time Zone: “Invalid Selection” or left blank
Solution:
- Choose the correct time zone that matches your region.
Step 4: Verify the Start Time Format
The Start Time must follow the ISO 8601 format:
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ
Correct Examples:
- 2025-03-10T08:00:00Z (March 10, 2025, at 8:00 AM UTC)
- 2025-03-10T15:30:00Z (March 10, 2025, at 3:30 PM UTC)
Incorrect Examples:
- 03/10/2025 08:00 AM (Incorrect format)
- March 10, 2025, 8:00 AM (Invalid format)
Solution:
- Convert start time to ISO 8601 format.
Step 5: Ensure Flow Is Enabled and Saved
Flows that are disabled or unsaved will not execute.
Solution:
- Open the flow.
- Click Save to ensure all changes are applied.
- Ensure the flow is turned on (not in a disabled state).
Step 6: Remove Conflicting Trigger Conditions
If the Recurrence trigger has Trigger Conditions, they may be preventing execution.
Solution:
- Expand the Recurrence trigger.
- Scroll down to Trigger Conditions.
- If conditions exist, remove them and test the flow.
Example Condition That May Cause Issues:
@equals(triggerBody()?['Status'], 'Active')
- If this condition is incorrect, the flow will never trigger.
- Remove or modify it if necessary.
Step 7: Check Power Automate Plan Limits
Power Automate limits scheduled flow executions based on your subscription:
| Plan | Recurrence Trigger Limits |
|---|---|
| Free Plan | Every 15 minutes or more |
| Standard Plan | Every 5 minutes or more |
| Premium Plan | Every 1 minute |
Solution:
- If using a free plan, upgrade to a premium plan for more frequent triggers.
Step 8: Check Microsoft Service Status
If Microsoft services are experiencing outages, recurrence triggers may fail.
Solution:
- Check Microsoft 365 Service Status: https://status.office365.com
- If Power Automate has issues, wait for Microsoft to resolve them.
Step 9: Test the Recurrence Trigger Manually
- Open the flow.
- Click Test > Manually Trigger.
- If the flow runs successfully, the issue is likely with the scheduling.
Solution:
- If the manual test works, verify the time zone, start time, and interval settings.
4. Preventative Measures
To avoid “Recurrence Trigger Configuration Error” in the future:
✔ Set valid frequency and interval values.
✔ Use ISO 8601 format for the Start Time.
✔ Ensure the correct time zone is selected.
✔ Check Microsoft service status before troubleshooting.
✔ Monitor Power Automate plan limitations.
✔ Remove unnecessary trigger conditions.
✔ Test the flow manually after making changes.