Dataverse file column uploads blank from Windows Power Apps player

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Posted on by AD-22040756-1

I have a canvas app that uploads files to a Dataverse File column. The issue only happens in the Windows Power Apps player. The same app/code works when I open the app in a web browser or in the android app player.

Behavior:

Browser/web player: file uploads successfully
Windows Power Apps player: Dataverse row is created, but the File column is sometimes blank
The issue is intermittent in the Windows player. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

I tested two approaches: Patch directly to the Dataverse File column using Patch() and a Dataverse Edit Form / SubmitForm with the File column card. Both approaches had the same issue. It works 100% of the time opening the app in a web browser, or in the android app player, but in the Windows App player it uploads a blank file column ocasionally. I can't figure out why sometimes its blank. The same file would work, and then stop working.

Question:

Has anyone seen Dataverse File column uploads intermittently save blank files from the Windows Power Apps player while working correctly in the browser?

Is there a known limitation, workaround, or required pattern for uploading Dataverse File columns from the Windows player?

Categories:

Microsoft Dataverse with Power Apps

Building Power Apps

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11manish 3,333 on at

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Yes, a few Power Apps developers have reported inconsistent behavior with Dataverse File columns when using the Windows Power Apps player, especially

compared to the browser experience.

the most likely root cause is a Windows Power Apps player file-upload timing/streaming issue, not your Power Fx formula or Dataverse configuration.

The next step I'd recommend is running Power Apps Monitor during a successful upload and a failed upload. The Monitor traces usually reveal whether the

separate file-upload request is being skipped, delayed, or failing inside the Windows player.

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Valantis 6,735 on at

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Hi @AD-22040756-1,

This is almost certainly a Windows player timing issue, not your code. The same formula works in browser and Android which rules out a logic problem.

Microsoft docs confirm Dataverse file columns use a multi-step upload process: the row is created first, then a separate set of API calls uploads the file content. In the Windows player, that second step appears to be intermittently dropped or timing out, leaving the column blank while the row itself is created successfully.

Best next step: run Power Apps Monitor during both a successful and a failed upload. Launch it by holding Alt and clicking the app in make.powerapps.com. Look for the file upload requests after the row creation and compare the two sessions. This will confirm whether the file upload call is being skipped or failing.

If Monitor confirms the Windows player is dropping the upload request, raise a Microsoft support ticket with the Monitor trace attached. This is a platform-level issue that can't be fixed from the app side.

Best regards,

Valantis

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RaghavMishra 261 on at

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Hi AD-22040756-1,

To add to the existing reply — the best way to diagnose this intermittent issue is to use Power Apps Monitor to capture a live trace during both a successful and a failed upload. The Monitor trace will show you whether the file payload is actually included in the Patch request, or silently dropped by the Windows player.

Steps to troubleshoot with Monitor:
1. Go to make.powerapps.com → open your app → select Monitor from the left pane.
2. Click Play published app to start a monitored session in the browser.
3. Reproduce the upload scenario and compare the Patch event payloads between a working and a failing run.
4. Look at the Patch or SubmitForm event — check if the file column payload is present or missing.

Workaround to try while investigating: Ensure the attachment control has fully resolved before your Patch() fires. You can gate the submit button's DisplayMode on a loading flag: Set(varUploading, true) before the Patch, then Set(varUploading, false) after, and set the button DisplayMode = If(varUploading, DisplayMode.Disabled, DisplayMode.Edit).

References:
- Debug canvas apps with Live Monitor — Microsoft Learn
- Patch function — Power Platform

Found this helpful? Please mark ✅ "Does this answer your question?" so others searching for the same issue can find it quickly. A 👍 on "Was this reply helpful?" or a ♥ Like is also much appreciated!

Raghav Mishra — LinkedIn | PowerAI Labs

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Valantis 6,735 on at

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Hi @AD-22040756-1,

Just wanted to check in and see if everything is working now. If you still need any help, feel free to let me know.

Also, if the issue is resolved, it would be great if you could mark the answer as solved so others with the same question can find it easily.

Thanks and have a great day!

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