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Fix Microsoft 365 Power Automate Excel Connection Failed Error
Question details
User needs to resolve an issue where a Power Automate flow can no longer connect or write data to an Excel table in OneDrive.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 Power Automate
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Running a Power Automate flow that interacts with an Excel table in OneDrive after a recent Microsoft account password change.
- Observed behavior
- The Power Automate flow stops writing data and returns an error stating that the Excel Online connection and environment data loss prevention policies could not be found.
Ensure you have the updated password for your Microsoft account ready and verify that the target Excel file is still properly saved and accessible in your OneDrive.
Refresh Excel Online Credentials in Power Automate
Updating your connection credentials is the most effective way to restore authorization after a password change.
When you change your Microsoft account password, existing security tokens used by Power Automate expire. You must manually re-authenticate the Excel Online connector to resume your data flows.
Log into your Power Automate account. On the left-hand navigation menu, click on 'Data' and select 'Connections'.
Scroll through your active connections to find the one labeled 'Excel Online (Business)' or 'Excel Online (OneDrive)' that is currently failing.
Click the three-dot menu (More commands) next to the connection and choose 'Edit'. Follow the on-screen prompts to enter your new Microsoft account password and re-authenticate.
Verify Environment DLP Policies
Use this solution if updating credentials does not clear the environment data loss prevention (DLP) policy error.
Experience Seamless Spreadsheet Management with WPS Office
While Power Automate connection issues are specific to the Microsoft cloud environment, you can always rely on WPS Office as a free, lightweight, and easy-to-use alternative for managing complex spreadsheets and data analysis offline and online.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office Free from the official website and run the lightweight installer on your device.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx files directly without any formatting loss.
- 3. Edit and Save: Enjoy seamless data editing and save your files effortlessly with full Microsoft format compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Excel connection fail in Power Automate after changing my password?
When you change your Microsoft account password, the active security token used by Power Automate for that connection expires. You must manually re-authenticate the connection in the 'Data > Connections' menu to generate a new token.
What does the data loss prevention (DLP) policy error mean in Power Automate?
A DLP policy error indicates that the environment's security settings are restricting certain connectors from sharing or accessing data. If policies were recently updated by an admin, it might block the Excel Online connector from executing.
Can I connect to a local Excel file using Power Automate?
Power Automate cloud flows require the Excel file to be hosted on a supported cloud service like OneDrive for Business or SharePoint to trigger or write data automatically.
