How to Fix SharePoint 2013 Workflow Timeout Errors
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where SharePoint 2013 workflows are timing out or becoming suspended despite having correct permissions.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint 2013
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Running a SharePoint 2013 workflow for simple tasks like sending email notifications.
- Observed behavior
- The workflow times out or goes into a suspended state due to exceeding SharePoint service limits.
Ensure you have site owner or administrator permissions for the SharePoint site and identify which specific workflows are getting suspended.
Remove Workflows Exceeding Service Limits
Clear workflows that have exceeded service limits to resolve the throttling state and allow new workflows to run successfully.
SharePoint protects its performance by throttling workflows that exceed predefined service limits. Removing these stuck or suspended workflows often clears the bottleneck.
Open your SharePoint site, go to Site Settings, and locate the Workflow Settings for your list or document library.
Check the workflow status page and look for any workflows marked with a 'Suspended' status.
Click on the suspended workflows and select the option to terminate or remove them from the queue.
Once the stuck workflows are cleared, trigger the workflow again to verify if the timeout error is resolved.
Migrate to Power Automate
Transition your SharePoint workflows to Microsoft Power Automate to prevent future legacy timeout issues.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my simple SharePoint 2013 workflow getting suspended?
Workflows can be suspended if they exceed SharePoint service limits, a process known as workflow throttling. This happens to protect the server's overall performance, even if the workflow only performs basic actions like sending emails.
Are SharePoint 2013 workflows still supported by Microsoft?
Microsoft has been gradually retiring SharePoint 2013 workflows across Microsoft 365. It is highly recommended to migrate existing workflows to Microsoft Power Automate to ensure continued functionality and support.
How do I check if a workflow has exceeded service limits?
You can check the workflow status page on your SharePoint site. If a workflow is marked as 'Suspended', clicking on the status will display an information icon detailing whether it exceeded performance or service limits.
What should I do if the timeout issue persists after clearing suspended workflows?
Ensure you have applied the latest SharePoint updates to your server environment. If the issue remains, contact your organization's IT administrator or open a formal support request with Microsoft.
