Others

How to Add an Attachment to a Multi-Step Power Automate Approval

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to collect a file attachment during an intermediate step of a Power Automate approval workflow and forward it to multiple managers or subsequent approval stages.

Product: Microsoft Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Designing a multi-tiered approval process where additional documentation must be uploaded midway and reviewed by later approvers.
Observed behavior: The user is seeking a method to capture, store, and successfully route intermediate attachments between different stages of an active Power Automate workflow.

Before you start

Ensure you have an active Microsoft 365 account with permissions to create Power Automate flows, and access to a shared storage location like SharePoint or OneDrive for saving attachments.

Solution 1Recommended

Store Attachments in SharePoint and Link to Subsequent Approvals

Since Power Automate cannot dynamically inject new attachments into a currently pending approval step, you must store the intermediate file in a centralized repository (like SharePoint) and pass its link to the next approval stage.

This method ensures that all approvers have access to the latest uploaded documentation without hitting email attachment size limits or workflow lock-ups.

Collect the intermediate attachment

Use a trigger or input form (such as Microsoft Forms or Power Apps) to allow the intermediate user to upload the required file during their stage of the process.

Save the file to SharePoint

Add a 'Create file' action in your Power Automate flow. Configure it to save the uploaded attachment to a designated SharePoint document library accessible to all managers.

Generate a shareable link

Add a 'Create share link' or 'Get file properties' action targeting the newly created file in SharePoint to generate a clickable URL.

Include the link in the next approval stage

In your subsequent 'Start and wait for an approval' action, paste the generated file URL into the 'Item link' field, and add a descriptive name in the 'Item link description' field. The next manager will click this link to review the attachment.

Permission Check: Ensure that all managers in the subsequent approval stages have at least 'Read' access to the SharePoint folder where the attachments are being saved.

Solution 2

Consult the Power Automate Community for Complex Architectures

If your workflow requires complex state machines or dynamic attachment arrays that standard actions cannot easily handle, consulting specialized workflow architects is recommended.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Review Workflow Attachments Easily with WPS Office

While Microsoft Power Automate handles the complex routing of your approval workflows, you and your managers still need a reliable, fast application to open, read, and review those attached documents. WPS Office serves as a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office, ensuring seamless document management.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free office suite on your device.
2. Open workflow attachments: Click the file link in your Power Automate approval email and open the downloaded document directly in WPS Office.
3. Review and approve: Review the formatting flawlessly, add necessary comments, or sign PDFs before approving the workflow step.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) commonly used in automated approval attachments.All-in-one workspace that lets you open Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files within a single tabbed window.Lightweight design ensures ultra-fast launch times, perfect for managers needing to quickly review documents between approval stages.Built-in PDF editing tools for quick sign-offs and annotations on intermediate workflow attachments.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add an attachment directly to a currently running Power Automate approval action?

No. Once an approval action (like 'Start and wait for an approval') is running, it enters a waiting state and cannot be dynamically updated with new attachments. You must collect the file first, save it, and then trigger the next approval step.

How do I pass attachments from an initial email trigger to an approval?

You can use the 'Attachments Name' and 'Attachments Content' dynamic content provided by the email trigger. Map these into the 'Attachments' array field under the advanced options of the 'Start and wait for an approval' action.

Why are the managers unable to open the attachment link provided in the approval email?

This is typically a permissions issue. When you save an intermediate attachment to SharePoint or OneDrive and pass the link, the recipient must have permission to view that file. Ensure you configure your flow to grant access, or save the files in a folder where all approvers already have read permissions.

Office Quick Solutions