Fix Power Automate Error AADSTS700016 for Personal OneDrive Excel Files
Question details
Users need to resolve error AADSTS700016 in Power Automate when a flow tied to a work account attempts to access an Excel file in a personal OneDrive.
- Product
- Power Automate & OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A user is running a Power Automate flow using a work tenant account, which needs to read or edit an Excel file stored on a personal OneDrive account.
- Observed behavior
- The flow execution fails, returning the error code AADSTS700016, preventing access to the personal OneDrive Excel file.
Verify that you have the correct login credentials for both your Microsoft 365 work account and your personal OneDrive account, and ensure the target Excel file has not been moved or deleted.
Refresh and Re-authenticate the OneDrive Connection
Connection tokens can expire or become corrupted. Re-authenticating your personal OneDrive account within Power Automate can often clear the error.
Log into Power Automate. On the left navigation pane, click on 'Data' and then select 'Connections'.
Find your personal OneDrive connection in the list. Click the three dots (More commands) next to it, and select 'Switch account' or 'Update credentials'.
Enter your personal Microsoft account credentials to re-authenticate. Once connected, open your flow in edit mode, ensure the refreshed connection is applied to your Excel actions, and click 'Save'.
Request Administrator Approval for Cross-Tenant Access
If re-authenticating fails, your work organization's Azure Active Directory policies are likely blocking connections to personal accounts.
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- 2. Open Your Excel File: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open the .xlsx file you were trying to access via OneDrive.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does error AADSTS700016 mean in Power Automate?
This error signifies an authentication or authorization failure in Azure Active Directory (Entra ID). It typically means the application was not found in the tenant's directory, or the work tenant has policies blocking the flow from connecting to external or personal accounts.
Can I bypass this error by sharing the personal OneDrive file with my work email?
Sharing the file directly might allow you to manually open it, but Power Automate flows act as applications. They may still be blocked by your organization's cross-tenant policies, meaning admin consent in Azure AD is usually required for automated access.
Why did my flow suddenly start showing the AADSTS700016 error?
This usually happens when your IT department updates the organization's security and compliance policies to block unauthorized third-party apps, or when the authentication token for your personal Microsoft account connection expires.
