License & Subscription Issues

Power Automate Licensing for Attended and Unattended Automation Guide

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs clarification on the licensing requirements for attended and unattended automation features within Power Automate Desktop.

Product: Microsoft Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Determining the correct process licenses and capabilities needed for desktop automation.
Observed behavior: Licensing requirements vary between attended and unattended setups, and a standard Process license may not cover all required capabilities.

Before you start

Determine whether your automation tasks require manual triggering (attended) or need to run entirely in the background without human intervention (unattended) before reviewing licensing options.

Solution 1Recommended

Consult the Official Microsoft Power Automate Community

Because Power Automate licensing structures are complex and frequently update based on specific organizational needs, the best approach is to seek guidance directly from the official community.

Microsoft frequently updates its licensing models for the Power Platform. Relying on community experts and official Microsoft representatives ensures you purchase the exact capacity or per-user license required for your specific desktop flow scenario.

Visit the Community

Open your web browser and navigate to the official Microsoft Power Automate Community forums.

Log In

Search or Post

Search the forum for 'attended vs unattended licensing'. If your scenario is unique, click 'New Message' to post your specific automation requirements and ask which license covers your capabilities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between attended and unattended automation in Power Automate?

Attended automation requires a user to be signed into the device to manually trigger or monitor the desktop flow. Unattended automation runs independently in the background on virtual machines or separate devices without any human intervention.

Does a standard Microsoft 365 license include Power Automate Desktop?

Yes, Windows 10 and 11 users get access to Power Automate Desktop for basic personal use. However, running premium connectors, unattended desktop flows, or sharing flows requires specific standalone or add-on licensing.

What is a Process license in Power Automate?

A Process license allocates capacity to a specific automation process or workflow, allowing it to run unattended across multiple users or departments in an organization without requiring individual per-user licenses.

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