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How to Create Power Automate Approval Flows with Clickable Attachments

Muhammad Talha Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to configure an automated workflow that takes attachments submitted via Microsoft Forms, saves them to SharePoint, and provides easily accessible, clickable file links during the approval stage.

Create Power Automate Approval Flows with Clickable Attachments

Product: Microsoft Power Automate, SharePoint, Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting up an automated approval process where reviewers can easily click and view document attachments submitted by users.
Observed behavior: Users need the correct dynamic configuration and Markdown/HTML expressions to ensure the file links are rendered as clickable attachments rather than plain, unclickable text in the approval request.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary permissions to create flows in Power Automate, view responses in Microsoft Forms, and upload documents to the target SharePoint document library.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure the Flow to Save Files and Generate Clickable Links

Use this standard procedure to extract attachments from Microsoft Forms, upload them to SharePoint, and format the approval details with clickable Markdown links.

To make attachments clickable in a Power Automate approval, you need to store the file in a centralized location like SharePoint and then use Markdown formatting in the approval's details field to render a clickable hyperlink.

Parse the Forms Attachment

Add a 'Get response details' action for your Microsoft Form. Then, use the 'Parse JSON' action to interpret the attachment array from the form response.

Retrieve and Create the File in SharePoint

Inside an 'Apply to each' loop, use 'Get file content' (from OneDrive or where the form stores it), and then add a 'Create file' action to save the document to your desired SharePoint library.

Get the File Link

Add a 'Get file properties' action targeting the newly created SharePoint file to retrieve the 'Link to item' dynamic content.

Format the Approval Details

In your 'Start and wait for an approval' action, use Markdown syntax in the Details field. Format it exactly as [View Document](Link to item) to ensure the link appears clickable to the approver.

Configure the Flow to Save Files and Generate Clickable Links

Markdown Syntax: Power Automate approvals natively support Markdown. Always use the format [Link Text](URL) to create hyperlinked text.

Solution 2

Consult the Microsoft Power Platform Community

If your clickable link expressions are failing or you encounter complex configuration errors, seeking expert advice from the dedicated community is highly recommended.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my SharePoint file links not clickable in Power Automate approvals?

This usually happens if the URL is inserted as plain text. You must use Markdown syntax, structured as [Link Text](Link URL), in the Approval 'Details' field to ensure the link renders as a clickable hyperlink for the approver.

Can I attach the file directly to the approval instead of using a link?

Yes, Power Automate allows you to pass the file content directly into the 'Attachments Name' and 'Attachments Content' fields of the 'Start and wait for an approval' action. However, this is limited by strict file size constraints, which is why saving to SharePoint and providing a link is often preferred.

How do I get multiple clickable links if a form has multiple attachments?

You need to initialize a string variable at the start of your flow. Inside your 'Apply to each' loop that processes each attachment, append a Markdown link (e.g., [File Name](Link URL) \n\n) to this variable. Finally, insert this string variable into the Details field of your approval action.

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