Trigger stops working when I add "Update item" to the flow

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Posted on by Klos

Hello everyone,

I have created a simple flow that is triggered when I create a new row in a list.
An approval process is started.

If I leave it at that, the flow works fine.

However, as soon as I want to update the item, the trigger no longer works.

I don't get any errors reported by flow-Checker or anything. Nothing happens when I add a new row to the list.

I am really getting desperate and don't know what the problem could be.

I am grateful for any tip!

Thank you in advance and best regards,

Klos

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wskinnermctc 6,519 Moderator on at

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Did you check if the flow is turned On or Off?

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Klos 11 on at

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Hello wskinnermctc,

thanks for the reply. Yes I tried it multiple times when it was turned on. Unfortunately that isn't the issue.

best regards,
Klos

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wskinnermctc 6,519 Moderator on at

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I would remake the flow from scratch. Do not copy and paste flow actions. Recreate all new flow and actions.

Sometimes Flows can have bugs due to testing, copying and paste, or changing the sources. I've had to recreate many flows.

Luckily your flow is small, so try a new one and see if that helps.

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Klos 11 on at

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I already tried that multiple times.
I just did it again and made the flow even simpler.

This flow was trigger without any issue as you can see here:

Then I added the Update Item and only filled the mandatory fields:
after this it stops triggering the flow. No copying of pasting.
What makes this even weirder is that I have older workflows with update item and they work without any issues.

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wskinnermctc 6,519 Moderator on at

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I think you have an infinite loop and power automate is blocking that from working.
I did not know that power automate would automatically stop an infinite loop. I thought the flow would just keep looping until an error or you ran out of api calls.

Try using Trigger Conditions in the settings of the initial trigger, or add the action Get Changes For Item or File and use condition controls on it to verify if you want to make an update.

Those items might signal to power automate that it is not an infinite loop and let the flow run.

I don't know for sure, and I can't find anything about power automate automatically preventing infinite loops, but that might be the issue.

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Klos 11 on at

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I tried it with a trigger conditions but got the same result.
Could you explain how the current flow creates an infinite loop?
I don't understand how this results in an infinite loop as the flow should only trigger when a new item is created and not when changes are made.

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wskinnermctc 6,519 Moderator on at

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Oh, I didn't know.

Your screenshots are in another language that I don't understand. The words for the Update Item action looked similar to the words in the initial trigger. So I thought that the initial trigger was based on Created or Updated.

My mistake.

No that is not an infinite loop.

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wskinnermctc 6,519 Moderator on at

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Try these three things in order.
Sign out of your account and sign back in.
Make a new SharePoint List and brand new flow and retry
Delete the SharePoint Connection in Power Automate and make a new Connection
The first test is to see if signing out and signing back in might trigger something with the application to help it start working again. The second test is to see if there is a problem with the list. The third test is to try and refresh the connection used by power automate.

1. Sign out of Account
I don't know if this will do anything, but it might trigger something that will help reconnect. You could even go so far as resetting your password for your account. Sometimes resetting the password could help refresh the account.
Account Sign Out

2.Make a new SharePoint List and brand new flow and retry
Go create a new SharePoint List and add a couple of columns, and then test a brand new flow.
If that works, then it must have something to do with your current SharePoint List. I don't know why the list would be a problem, but maybe there is something about it that is losing the connection.

If a new list doesn't work; try the following if you have the access or capability.
Create a new SharePoint List in a different SharePoint Site and test a brand new flow.
This could be a parent site or a subsite.
Or try to test a new SharePoint List in a MS Teams site with a brand new flow.
If possible, go to a new Environment and try a new flow with a new list. (Not everyone has multiple environments, so this might not be an option.)
Below is a screenshot that shows where to change the Environment.
Environment Options

3. Delete the SharePoint Connection in Power Automate and make a new Connection:

Go to your Power Automate Data Connections and find the SharePoint connector. Completely delete the connector. Power Automate YouTube Manage Connections
If you have other flows using the SharePoint connector, they will need to be edited to reset the connection.

Below is a screenshot of where to look at the SharePoint connection used by Power Automate. It should be on your sidebar under Data > Connections.
Connections

If you have other flows using the SharePoint connector, they will need to be edited to reset the connection.
This is not difficult depending on the number of flows you already have using the connection. If you have 100 active flows using the connection, it will be difficult. If you have 10 active flows using the connection, it will be easier.
You basically have to go edit each flow that uses the SharePoint connection, and for each action that uses the SharePoint connection (Update Item, Create Item, When Item Is Updated, List Rows, etc.) and reconnect.

I know this is tedious, but I would try testing these things to remove the possibility that it has something to do with the SharePoint list or the connector.

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Klos 11 on at

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Thank you very much for the detailed instructions.

I just created a new simple List and it worked right away, even with the same flow.
Now I'll recreate the list as it was and will test the flow with every change I make.

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