Fix Power Automate Error: Source Folder Is Already Part of Another Move
Question details
Users encounter an error in Power Automate when trying to move a SharePoint folder, indicating a conflict with another operation.
- Product
- Microsoft Power Automate / SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Running an automated flow to move or copy folders across SharePoint directories.
- Observed behavior
- The Power Automate flow fails with the error message: 'The source folder is already part of another copy or move operation.'
Ensure you have access to the Power Automate 'Run history' for the failing flow and adequate SharePoint permissions to view the current status of the target folders.
Check for Overlapping Flow Runs and Pending Operations
This error most commonly occurs if multiple instances of the flow are running simultaneously or if a manual move operation is still processing in SharePoint.
SharePoint places a temporary lock on a folder while it is being moved or copied. If another flow trigger or a manual user action attempts to move the same folder before the first operation completes, the system rejects it.
Navigate to the source document library in SharePoint and check if the folder is visually marked as syncing or if a manual move operation is currently in progress.
Open Power Automate, go to 'My flows,' select the problematic flow, and click on 'Run history'. Check if an earlier run is still marked as 'Running'.
If you find a flow run that is hung or stuck in a loop, click its timestamp and select 'Cancel' from the top menu to clear the operation lock.
Allow a few minutes for SharePoint to completely release the lock on the folder, then manually resubmit the failed flow run to test if the issue is resolved.
Escalate to the Power Automate Community
If you have confirmed that no other operations are locking the folder but the flow consistently fails, community experts can help diagnose deeper backend conflicts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does SharePoint lock a folder during a move operation?
SharePoint temporarily locks the source folder during a move or copy operation to prevent data corruption and ensure data consistency across the server. If another flow or user action attempts to move the locked folder, SharePoint safely rejects it.
How do I limit concurrent runs in Power Automate to prevent folder move errors?
To limit concurrent runs, edit your flow, click the three dots (...) on the trigger action, and select 'Settings'. Toggle 'Concurrency Control' to On, and drag the 'Degree of Parallelism' slider down to 1. This forces flow runs to queue and process sequentially.
Can I use 'Copy file' instead of 'Move file' to avoid this lock?
While copying is generally safer and less prone to strict locking than moving (which involves a deletion step at the source), trying to copy a folder that is already actively being moved or copied by another process can still trigger a similar conflict error.
