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How to Fix Power Automate German DateTime Parsing Error

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve a DateTime parsing error that occurs when formatting dates from a German SharePoint site using a specific expression.

Product: Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Using the formatDateTime expression on a trigger body field with German regional settings in SharePoint.
Observed behavior: Power Automate reports a DateTime parsing error and interprets the dates incorrectly when the format string 'dd.mm.yyyy' is applied.

Before you start

Verify the exact raw date string output generated by your SharePoint trigger from the flow run history before modifying any expressions.

Solution 1Recommended

Correct the formatDateTime Expression

Fix syntax errors in the date format string to ensure Power Automate accurately parses months instead of minutes.

In Power Automate expressions, date format strings are case-sensitive. The lowercase 'mm' stands for minutes, while uppercase 'MM' stands for months. Using 'dd.mm.yyyy' causes the system to parse the month field as minutes, leading to incorrect dates or parsing errors.

Locate the formatDateTime expression

Open your Power Automate flow in edit mode, click on the action where the error occurs, and open the expression editor.

Update the format string

Change your expression from formatDateTime(triggerBody()?['field_3'], 'dd.mm.yyyy') to formatDateTime(triggerBody()?['field_3'], 'dd.MM.yyyy').

Test the flow

Click 'Save' at the top right, then click 'Test' to run a manual trigger and verify that the date parses correctly without errors.

Correct Date Formatting: Using 'MM' for months ensures your dates are parsed accurately according to standard ISO formatting rules.

Solution 2

Seek Assistance in the Power Platform Community

If regional settings and formatting adjustments do not resolve the issue, consult Microsoft specialists for complex parsing scenarios.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Power Automate confuse months and minutes in date formatting?

Power Automate relies on standard format strings where lowercase 'mm' explicitly represents minutes, and uppercase 'MM' represents months. If you use 'dd.mm.yyyy', the system will extract the minute value instead of the month, often leading to parsing errors.

How can I handle German date formats coming from SharePoint?

If SharePoint outputs a localized string like '25.12.2023', you may need to use the parseDateTime function with a specific locale parameter (e.g., 'de-DE') before attempting to reformat it with formatDateTime.

Can I change the default timezone for my Power Automate flow?

Power Automate processes dates and times in UTC by default. To align with your regional settings, add the 'Convert time zone' action to transform the UTC timestamp into your local German timezone.

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