Not able to choose SQL authentication when config an variable

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Posted on by hongkong

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We have a solution that contains a Canvas app and several flows. They are using Azure SQL server as data source with SQL authentication.

However, all the environment variables do not allow me to choose a SQL authentication connection. I can only choose to be authenticated as myself (my personal AAD account) as connection. In the screenshot I attached, under the "connection" dropdown I can only pick my AAD account as authentication. If I choose +connection, it allow me to create a new SQL authentication connection. However the dropdown will never allow me pick up the SQL authentication connection.

Is there anyway to fix it?

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Microsoft Dataverse with Power Apps

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MS.Ragavendar 7,162 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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@hongkong,

There are two environment variables to set for SQL connections:

server

database.

The database environment variable depends on the server environment variable. First you create an environment variable for your server.

Once that is created you can create an environment variable for the database that attaches to the server environment variable.

https://www.ariclevin.com/sql/post/sql-server-environment-variables-in-power-apps/

🏷️ Please tag me @MS.Ragavendar if you still have any queries related to the solution or issue persists.

✅ Please click Accept as solution if my post helped you solve your issue and help others who will face the similar issue in future.

❤️ Please consider giving it a Like, If the approach was useful in other ways.

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hongkong 277 on at

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Hi @MS.Ragavendar, thanks for your respond.

I followed the article provided and create a test connection with Service Principal (Microsoft Entra ID application), it is working. HOWEVER, it is not working for SQL authentication.

Steps to reproduce:

1. In Power App portal, go to "Connections " in menu. Create a SQL connection and choose "SQL authentication" as authentication type.

2. Go back to the Power App solution. Create a new environment variable, choose Data Type=Data Source , Connector=SQL Server. Then in Connection dropdown, I CANNOT see the connection created in step 1.

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MS.Ragavendar 7,162 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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@hongkong,

Power Platform’s solution-aware environment variables of type Data Source are designed to support managed and secure deployments, and they only support OAuth-based connections (e.g., AAD or service principal).

SQL Authentication (username/password) is considered a non-secure or personal connection, and Power Platform restricts it from being used in this context.

This means: Environment variables of type Data source will not show connections made using SQL authentication in the dropdown.

You can create SQL auth connections, and even use them in canvas apps outside of solutions, but not bind them to solution-aware environment variables.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/data-platform/create-connection-reference

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/canvas-apps/connections-list#security-and-types-of-authentication

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hongkong 277 on at

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Thanks for your detailed response. I can now create a Service principle connection and work on it.

As the owner of solution, everything looks fine.

However, the end users are being prompted for following when try to open the canvas app:

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