Replace text in a SharePoint File [Word document] using Power Automate

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Hello Community members,

Any help will be appreciated!

I have an issue: I wanted to replace the text in a Word document present in the SharePoint document library. I was getting a file from the SharePoint document library. Get file returns the content in binary data type. I want the content to be in text format so that I can easily replace it. To convert the binary data output, I used Compose with the expression: @{base64ToString(body('Get_file_content')?['$content'])}.

Compose 1: @{replace(outputs('Compose'),'Invoice Number','Invoice ID')}
then updating file content content of UPdate File with Compose 1 outputs. but it's not working. not replacing the text. Is there any other way to do!
Please suggest solution for me.
Thank you!

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Building flows

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StretchFredrik 3,395 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hello,

in my experience, the only way to do this is by having a word template with Content Controls, that you then fillout using Power Automate with the action "Populate a Microsoft Word Template". But there might be someone on the forums that has another clever solution.

Ill leave a link to the action here: Word Online (Business) - Connectors | Microsoft Learn

Why your flow most likely isn't working:

base64ToString() assumes the file is plain text, but .docx is a binary format.
Even if you decode it, the contents of the file are not readable or editable as plain text.
Replacing text this way can corrupt the file.

If my response solved your issue, please mark it as ✅ Accepted Answer and give it a like.

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Community member 9 on at

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Hello @StretchFredrik
Can it be achieved using the GRAPH API or the REST API in Power Automate?
Thank you

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StretchFredrik 3,395 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hello,

From my experience, no

The only solution i know is the one i posted below

If my response solved your issue, please mark it as ✅ Accepted Answer and give it a like.

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Chriddle 8,443 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Your general approach can work, but it's harder to get to the content:

First you have to unzip the .docx file, then grap the document.xml.

Structure of Docx Files: XML Schema, File Organization, and Common Errors | by Stefan Sommarsjö | Medium

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takolota1 4,974 Moderator on at

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If you have access to an Azure account then this template function app contains a Replace Text in Word function

https://community.powerplatform.com/galleries/gallery-posts/?postid=a5255ced-dc08-f011-bae3-6045bdf03fcb

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