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How to Update Microsoft 365 Profile Picture from Forms via Power Automate

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know if a Power Automate flow can automatically update a Microsoft 365 user profile picture using an image uploaded via Microsoft Forms.

Product: Power Automate / Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Automating user profile picture updates using images submitted through a form.
Observed behavior: The user is looking for confirmation and guidance on whether this workflow is possible and how to handle the file attachments and permissions.

Before you start

Ensure that the account running the Power Automate flow has the necessary administrative privileges in Microsoft 365 to update user profiles, and verify where your Microsoft Forms file uploads are being stored (usually OneDrive for Business).

Solution 1Recommended

Build a Power Automate Flow for Profile Photo Updates

This solution outlines the conceptual steps required to extract an image from Microsoft Forms, handle the file data, and update an Office 365 user profile.

Building this automation requires integrating Microsoft Forms, OneDrive/SharePoint for file handling, and the Office 365 Users connector. Complex API identity requirements may apply depending on your tenant's security policies.

Set up the Forms trigger

In Power Automate, create an automated cloud flow and select the 'When a new response is submitted' trigger, pointing it to your specific Microsoft Form.

Retrieve form details

Add the 'Get response details' action to access the data submitted by the user, including the JSON string of the uploaded image file attachment.

Parse the file and get content

Use a 'Parse JSON' action on the file upload field to extract the file ID. Then, use the OneDrive for Business 'Get file content' action to retrieve the actual binary data of the submitted picture.

Update the profile picture

Add the 'Update user photo (V2)' action from the Office 365 Users connector. Pass the target user's email address and the retrieved file content to apply the photo to their Microsoft 365 profile.

Seek Community Expert Advice: Because permissions, identity requirements, and file array structures can be tricky, it is highly recommended to post your specific form structure in the Power Automate Community for advanced troubleshooting and connector-specific guidance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What permissions do I need to update another user's profile picture via Power Automate?

The user submitting the form only needs access to Microsoft Forms. However, the account connection running the 'Update user photo' action in Power Automate must have the required administrative permissions (like User Administrator or Global Administrator) to update directory profile pictures.

What image formats are supported for Office 365 profile pictures?

Profile pictures should generally be in standard formats such as JPEG or PNG. It is also recommended to keep the file size under 4 MB to ensure successful API updates via the Office 365 Users connector.

Why is my 'Get file content' action failing in Power Automate when taking files from Forms?

Microsoft Forms passes file attachment data as an array formatted as a JSON string, rather than a direct file ID. You must use a 'Parse JSON' action (or an expression) first to extract the correct file identifier before passing it to the OneDrive 'Get file content' action.

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