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How to get a flow to download a PDF to the user’s own OneDrive?

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Posted on by HenryAtCQC

Hi All

I built a flow that downloads a PDF to my downloads folder in OneDrive. This was designed to be used by the whole team but when other team members execute the flow. It sends the PDF into my personal OneDrive and not theirs.

The flow connections are using my login authenticate and I tried changing it to use the team’s distribution email.

Q: Is there a way to get the flow to save the PDFs to the OneDrive of the person who executes it?

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MarkRahn 1,229 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @HenryAtCQC ,

The flow needs to be set up to so that the "Connections Used" are set to "Provided by run-only user". To do this, go to the Details View of the Flow. Look for "Run only users" to the bottom right:
Click on Edit. (For the test I did I was using a SharePoint Document Library).
Check that the "Connections Used" are set to "Provided by run-only user".
When a user other than yourself runs the flow, it should save to their personal One Drive.

-Mark
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HenryAtCQC 29 on at

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I don't seem to have this option. Is it a new feature?

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MarkRahn 1,229 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @HenryAtCQC

Were you able to get things working?

-Mark

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HenryAtCQC 29 on at

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No, I still don't have access to "Provided by run-only user" from the "Connections Used". It only shows my work email. I am looking around for how to enable this

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MarkRahn 1,229 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @HenryAtCQC

What trigger are you using to start the flow? For the example I did I was using "For a selected file" from the SharePoint Actions. That might be what is limiting what you see on the Details page.

-Mark

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HenryAtCQC 29 on at

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My flow export an embedded paginated report in Power BI using the Power Automate visual.

Major actions
Trigger: On Power BI button clicked
Next Step: Export To File for Paginated Reports
last: Create file in OneDrive

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MarkRahn 1,229 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @HenryAtCQC

I created a similar Flow:
Here is where "Run only user" would show up
But I duplicated the basic part of your flow, and Power Automate is only allowing the "Connections Used" to be fixed on my account as the Owner of the Flow. I don't think the "On Power BI button clicked" trigger has the same "awareness" as the "For a Selected File" trigger for SharePoint.
I'm not sure you are going to be able to get what you want. You may need to switch tactics and email the generated pdf to the user (because the "On Power Bi button clicked" trigger does capture the email for the user that clicked the button).

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

-Mark

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HenryAtCQC 29 on at

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Thanks, @MarkBandR

Thanks for investigating the "On Power BI button clicked" trigger and it’s a shame that it doesn’t have the "Provided by run-only user" as an option.

I changed the flow to save the PDFs output to a shared SharePoint folder that’s working.
I will run the idea of saving PDF as an e-mail attachment to my team.

Thanks

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