Data Import & Export

How to Use Power Automate to Search Excel Data for a Keyword

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to search for a specific keyword within an Excel file using a Power Automate flow.

How to Use Power Automate to Search Excel Data for a Keyword

Product: Power Automate / Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Designing a Power Automate flow to extract or filter specific rows from an Excel workbook based on a keyword search.
Observed behavior: Using the 'Get File Content Using Path' action returns the entire workbook as a binary object, making it impossible to parse the data or search for specific keywords in the rows.

Before you start

Ensure that your source data in the Excel workbook is formatted as a formal Table (Insert > Table), as Power Automate requires a defined table to read and filter rows.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the 'List rows present in a table' Action

Replace the file content action with the Excel Online (Business) connector to properly read and filter table data.

The 'Get File Content Using Path' action is designed for copying or moving files, not reading cell data. To search Excel rows, you must use the Excel Online (Business) connector.

Format data as a table

Open your source Excel file, highlight your data range, and press Ctrl+T to format it as a Table. Save the file to SharePoint or OneDrive for Business.

Add the Excel Online action

In your Power Automate flow, add a new step and search for the 'Excel Online (Business)' connector. Select the 'List rows present in a table' action.

Configure the action

Select the Location, Document Library, File, and Table name from the dropdown menus.

Apply a filter or condition

Use the 'Filter Query' field in the advanced options to write an OData query (e.g., ColumnName eq 'Keyword'), or add a subsequent 'Condition' step to check if your target column contains the keyword.

Use the 'List rows present in a table' Action

Complex Flow Designs: For highly advanced flow configurations or OData query syntax, consulting the dedicated Power Automate Community is highly recommended.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'Get File Content Using Path' fail to read Excel rows?

This action retrieves the entire file as a raw binary object (file content). It is meant for file management tasks like copying or emailing an attachment, rather than parsing internal structured spreadsheet data.

Do I absolutely need to format my Excel data as a table?

Yes. Power Automate's Excel connectors require the data to be formatted as a defined Table. This allows the system to accurately identify column headers and row boundaries for automation.

How do I write my search results to a new Excel file?

After filtering the rows, you can use the 'Add a row into a table' action connected to your destination workbook. You will need to map the dynamic content from your filtered results to the corresponding columns in the new table.

Excel & Data Problems