Getting started with an Organization premium account

Power Automate Desktop enables regular and power users alike to create flows that automate routine repetitive tasks. Build flows from pre-made actions, or record windows and web browser activity in real time.

Unlock the full spectrum of RPA features such as premium cloud connectors, the ability to run your flows automatically, detailed monitoring and many more.

Power Automate Desktop gives you the option to share your flows among your colleagues so that you can improve automations and build on top of them.

Access your flows from anywhere, harnessing the power of the cloud to establish a robust and flexible RPA system. Take full advantage of multiple environments to organize and manage users’ flows.

If you currently use Power Automate with a work or school account or your license does not include attended RPA, you can still use Power Automate Desktop for your desktop automation needs. Start a trial to preview all the features by selecting Go Premium on the Power Automate Desktop console.

Creating a flow

  1. Begin by visiting https://flow.microsoft.com/ and entering your credentials; then, navigate to My flows, and create a new Desktop flow:

    create a new desktop flow

  2. After you assign a name to the flow, you will be prompted to launch Power Automate Desktop; select Open to do so.

  3. In the flow designer, start building the flow by double-clicking on actions, or dragging them from the actions pane on the left, to the central workspace pane.

  4. Expand the Datetime category, and select the Get current date and time action. Configure it to only retrieve the date:

    get the current date

  5. Next, expand the Text category, and configure the Convert datetime to text actions as follows:

    convert datetime to text

    This will ensure that the current date is displayed in a filename-friendly format.

  6. Use the Get special folder action to retrieve the path of the Documents folder:

    get special folder

  7. Add the If file exists action from the Conditionals category, and configure it to check whether the file "report.xlsx" is present in the Documents folder:

    if report exists

  8. Finally, add the current date to the file's name by using the Rename file(s) action from the File category:

    rename the report

  9. The resulting flow should look like this:

    the finished flow

Following this example, it is possible to imagine a wide range of scenarios where Power Automate Desktop can be used to automate tasks. The abundance of actions, combined with cloud management capabilities, affords endless possibilities to individual users and organizations.

Next Steps