web
You’re offline. This is a read only version of the page.
close
Skip to main content

Announcements

News and Announcements icon
Community site session details

Community site session details

Session Id :
Power Platform Community / Forums / Power Apps / Difference between Con...
Power Apps
Answered

Difference between Connections and Dataflows

(0) ShareShare
ReportReport
Posted on by 3

Hello,

 

Inquiring what the general difference is between Connections and Dataflows within PowerApps environment settings. I am specifically looking at the SFTP option which exists in Connections but not in Dataflows - ideally, I would want to use a file within an SFTP server as my data source, and a new file to be provided daily/weekly etc. I realize there is the option to use PowerAutomate to make a copy of the file from the SFTP to a SharePoint which would allow the use of Dataflows, but curious on the difference between both methods. 

 

Thank you

Categories:
I have the same question (0)
  • Verified answer
    SpongYe Profile Picture
    5,905 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

    Hi @Pmocha 

     

    We need to undertsand what a Data Connection is and a dataflow.

     

    Data Connection

    Most Power Apps apps use external information called Data Sources that is stored in cloud services. A common example is a table in an Excel file stored in OneDrive for Business. Apps are able to access these data sources by using Connections.

    The most common type of data source is the table, which you can use to retrieve and store information. You can use connections to data sources to read and write data in Microsoft Excel workbooks, Microsoft Lists, SQL tables, and many other formats, which can be stored in cloud services like OneDrive for Business, DropBox, and SQL Server.

    There are other kinds of data sources that aren't tables, such as email, calendars, twitter, and notifications.

    (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/canvas-apps/add-manage-connections)

     

    Dataflow

    Dataflows are used to extract, transform, and load data to a storage destination where it can be leveraged for different scenarios. Because not all storage destinations share the same characteristics, some dataflow features and behaviors differ depending on the storage destination the dataflow loads data into. Before you create a dataflow, it's important to understand how the data is going to be used, and choose the storage destination according to the requirements of your solution. (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-query/dataflows/understanding-differences-between-analytical-standard-dataflows)

     

    So Dataflow only supports the ETL process but connections you have the possibility to read and write data.


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    If I have answered your question, please mark your post as Solved. Remember, you can accept more than one post as a solution.

    If you like my response, please give it a Thumbs Up.

Under review

Thank you for your reply! To ensure a great experience for everyone, your content is awaiting approval by our Community Managers. Please check back later.

Helpful resources

Quick Links

Season of Sharing Community Challenge Launch!

Jump in, show your community spirit, and win prizes!

Kudos to our 2025 Community Spotlight Honorees

Expanding mentorship, skilling, and AI innovation

Congratulations to the May Top 10 Community Leaders!

These are the community rock stars!

Leaderboard > Power Apps

#1
Valantis Profile Picture

Valantis 392

#2
WarrenBelz Profile Picture

WarrenBelz 364 Most Valuable Professional

#3
Kalathiya Profile Picture

Kalathiya 271 Super User 2026 Season 1

Last 30 days Overall leaderboard