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Image not generated on Mobile APP but it works on Browser on the desktop

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Posted on by CU29071321-1

Hi everyone,

I'm building a Power Apps application that displays item images based on a scanned barcode. I store all item images in a SharePoint document library (Items Images), and each image file is named using the *** code (e.g., 43100000.jpg). In my SharePoint list (Finished Items barcode), each item has a Title (which stores the barcode) and a ***_Code field. In Power Apps, I extract the *** code from the scanned barcode and use it to build the image URL manually like this:

With(
    {
        extractedBarcode: Mid(txt_Barcode.Text, Find("(01)", txt_Barcode.Text) + 4, 14),
        ***Code: LookUp('Finished Items barcode', Title = extractedBarcode, ***_Code)
    },
    "https://*********.sharepoint.com/sites/***/Sales/Items%20Images/" & ***Code & ".jpg"
)

This works perfectly in a desktop browser, the image loads correctly. However, when I run the same app in the Power Apps mobile app, the image does not load at all. I suspect it's related to how the mobile app handles authentication when loading SharePoint-hosted image URLs directly. I’m looking for advice or workarounds on how to get these images to reliably display on mobile, ideally without changing to a completely different hosting method. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Ps: I had to hide some words with "*"

TIA

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Jon Unzueta 1,834 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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@CU29071321-1

You're absolutely right in suspecting that the issue is related to authentication handling in the Power Apps mobile app. Here's a breakdown of what's happening and how to work around it:

🔍 Why it works on desktop but not on mobile

On desktop browsers, you're likely already authenticated with SharePoint Online (via cookies or session), so the image loads fine.

On Power Apps mobile, the app does not automatically pass authentication tokens to SharePoint when loading direct image URLs. As a result, the image request is unauthenticated, leading to a failure.

✅ Workaround Options

Option 1: Use Power Apps Media Control with SharePoint Integration

Instead of building the image URL manually, use a Media control and bind it to the image file stored in SharePoint via a connected SharePoint list:

Create a SharePoint list with a Hyperlink or Image column pointing to the image file.

In Power Apps, connect to that list and bind the Media control to the image column.

This method uses authenticated connectors and works on mobile.

⚠️ Downside: You need to maintain a list that maps barcodes to image URLs.

Option 2: Use Power Automate to Return the Image as Base64

Create a Power Automate flow that:

Takes the *** code as input.

Retrieves the image from SharePoint.

Returns the image as a Base64 string.

In Power Apps, call the flow and bind the result to an Image control using:

"data:image/jpeg;base64," & YourFlow.Run(...).imageContent

✅ This works reliably on mobile because the flow runs under the authenticated context of the user.

Option 3: Move Images to Dataverse or Azure Blob Storage

If you're open to changing the storage method:

Dataverse: Store images in a table with image columns.

Azure Blob Storage: Use SAS tokens to generate secure, time-limited URLs that work on mobile.

🧪 Quick Test

To confirm the issue, try opening the image URL directly in a mobile browser (e.g., Safari or Chrome). If it prompts for login or fails, it's definitely an authentication issue.

🏷️ Tag me if you have any further questions or if the issue persists.

✅ Click "Accept as Solution" if my post helped resolve your issue—it helps others facing similar problems.

❤️ Give it a Like if you found the approach useful in any way.

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WarrenBelz 155,346 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @CU29071321-1,

The initial ChatGPT generated response posted is accurate to some degree on the cause, but I do not believe the possible solutions are really viable compared with the alternative.

The cause is indeed related to token authentication - essentially the mobile app needs to resolve any URL-based image "anonymously" - in other words the URL needs to be accessable without any authentication (such as an "open" web image).

The issue is that there is a better model for linking to SharePoint Library images rather than viewing them as "external" URLs. When you create the image, if you have a Text field, which you can populate with the Barcode value when the image is created. You then link the Library in your Data Sources and open the image with
Launch( LookUp( SPLibrary, BarcodeField = Barcode.Text ).'Link to item' )

This works perfectly on both browser and mobile apps.'

Please click Does this answer your question if my post helped you solve your issue. This will help others find it more readily. It also closes the item. If the content was useful in other ways, please consider giving it a Like.
Visit my blog Practical Power Apps LinkedIn

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