Power Automate relies on connectors to interact with different services like SharePoint, Outlook, Dataverse, and third-party apps. However, users sometimes face connection issues that prevent flows from running correctly.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
Common causes of connection issues
How to fix broken or expired connections
Troubleshooting authentication errors
Best practices to prevent future connection failures
1. Understanding Power Automate Connection Issues
A connection issue in Power Automate occurs when:
- The authentication token expires, causing an “Invalid Connection” error
- Permissions are insufficient to access a service
- The API rate limit is exceeded
- A network issue prevents Power Automate from reaching the service
How to Identify Connection Issues
1️⃣ Go to Power Automate
2️⃣ Click on “My Flows”
3️⃣ Find the failing flow and click on “Run History”
4️⃣ Check for error messages related to connections
2. Fixing Expired or Invalid Connections
One of the most common issues is expired authentication tokens.
How to Re-authenticate or Update a Connection
1️⃣ Go to Power Automate Connections
2️⃣ Look for any “Invalid” or “Fix connection” errors
3️⃣ Click on “Fix connection” and re-enter your credentials
4️⃣ If the issue persists, click “Delete” and recreate the connection
Best Practice: Set up a service account instead of using a personal account to prevent connection interruptions.
3. Handling Authentication and Permission Issues
Common Authentication Errors & Fixes
Error: “Unauthorized” or “Access Denied”
Solution: Ensure the user account has the required permissions.
- For SharePoint, check that the account has Edit or Full Control access.
- For Dataverse, ensure correct security roles are assigned.
- For Outlook/Office 365, verify that multi-factor authentication (MFA) isn’t blocking the connection.
How to Check Permissions in SharePoint:
1️⃣ Open SharePoint site settings
2️⃣ Click “Site Permissions”
3️⃣ Ensure the account has at least Edit permissions
Best Practice: Use service principals for authentication instead of user-based credentials.
4. Fixing API Rate Limits & Throttling Issues
Power Automate applies rate limits to prevent excessive API calls. If a connection reaches the limit, flows will fail with a “429 Too Many Requests” error.
How to Fix API Rate Limits
1️⃣ Reduce the frequency of triggers (e.g., change from every 5 minutes to every 15 minutes).
2️⃣ Batch requests instead of making multiple individual API calls.
3️⃣ Use retry policies in flow actions to automatically handle delays.
Best Practice: Implement a “Do Until” loop with delay actions to manage retries efficiently.
5. Troubleshooting Network-Related Issues
Sometimes, connections fail due to network restrictions or firewall settings.
How to Fix Network Issues
Check Firewall Settings:
- Ensure that Power Automate has access to external services by allowing necessary domains.
- Open Power Automate’s required ports (e.g., HTTPS 443).
Use a Static IP for Connections:
- Some connectors (e.g., SQL Server, Dataverse) require static IPs for access.
- Get Power Automate’s static IP ranges from Microsoft’s official documentation.
Best Practice: If using on-premises data gateways, keep them updated to the latest version.
6. Dealing with “Cannot Connect” or “Invalid Credentials” Errors
If Power Automate cannot connect to a service, try these fixes:
General Fixes for “Cannot Connect” Errors
- Try reconnecting the service under Power Automate Connections.
- Check if the service is down on Microsoft 365 Service Status.
- Test the connection manually outside Power Automate (e.g., log in to SharePoint separately).
Best Practice: If your organization uses Conditional Access Policies (CAPs), ensure Power Automate is allowed.
7. Recreating a Broken Connection
If none of the fixes work, the best approach is to delete and recreate the connection.
Steps to Recreate a Connection
1️⃣ Go to Power Automate Connections
2️⃣ Find the faulty connection and click Delete
3️⃣ Click “New Connection” and select the service
4️⃣ Enter authentication details and save
Best Practice: After reconnecting, test the flow manually to confirm it works.