Re-enable an automated flow after doing a mass update will still trigger it on the old item updates

(0) Share

Report

Posted on by johnjohnPter

1,811 Super User 2024 Season 1

I have a Contract list inside SharePoint online and it has an automate flow that get triggered when an Item is Created or Modified. the flow will update some external lists and send email notifications. Yesterday i wanted to test a manual flow which will do mass updates on the Contract list (which currently has 350 items), so i disabled the automate flow first to avoid sending mass email notifications, and i run the manual flow to update the contract items, then after the manual flow finished, i waited for around 1/2 hour, then i re-enable the automated flow, but it got triggered 350 times.. so why this happened and how i can avoid this when i want to do the mass update on PROD?? How i can completly disable an automated flow?

Thanks

Categories:

Building flows

I have the same question (0)

All responses (4)

Answers (0)

Suggested answer

SwatiSTW 741 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

Like (1)

Report

Why This Happened:
1. Power Automate detects all modifications when re-enabled, even changes made while it was disabled.
2. Your bulk updates were logged in SharePoints change history, so the flow processed them as new changes.

How to Prevent It :

Option 1 - Use a Flag Field
1. Add a Yes/No column in your SharePoint list, e.g., BulkUpdateFlag.
During bulk updates, set BulkUpdateFlag to Yes for all items.
2. Add a Trigger Condition in your flow to ignore flagged items:
@equals(triggerOutputs()?['body/BulkUpdateFlag'], false)
3. After the bulk update, set the BulkUpdateFlag back to No.

Option 2 - Disable at Trigger Level
1. Temporarily remove the trigger from the flow.
2. Perform your bulk updates.
3. Re-add the trigger once updates are complete.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
johnjohnPter 1,811 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

Like (0)

Report

SwatiSTW

Thanks for the reply.. but are you sure there is not a more straighforward approach to this?

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Suggested answer

SwatiSTW 741 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

Like (0)

Report

Yes there is simple option

1. Go to Power Automate, locate your automated flow, and turn it off.

2. Perform Your Bulk Update - Run your manual process to update the items in your SharePoint list.
3. Wait for an Hour (or More) - This allows SharePoint’s event logs to settle and prevents the flow from detecting past updates.
4. Turn the Flow Back On - Re-enable the flow in Power Automate after the waiting period.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
johnjohnPter 1,811 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

Like (0)

Report

@SwatiSTW

In my case i waited for more than 1/2 hour but less than an hour,, and the events get triggered.. so how did you seatled on the 1 hour limit? is it documented any where?

Was this reply helpful? Yes No