Start a flow in a canvas app
You can use Power Automate to create logic that performs one or more tasks when an event occurs in a canvas app. For example, configure a button so that, when a user selects it, an item is created in a SharePoint list, an email or meeting request is sent, a file is added to the cloud, or all of these. You can configure any control in the app to start the flow, which continues to run even if you close Power Apps.
Note
When a user runs a flow from within an app, that user must have permission to perform the tasks that are specified in the flow. Otherwise, the flow will fail.
Prerequisites
- Sign up for Power Apps.
- Learn how to configure a control.
Create a flow
Sign in to Power Apps.
In the left navigation bar, select Business logic, and then select Flows.
In the upper-left corner of the My Flows page, select New, and then select Create from blank.
Near the bottom of the page that appears, select Search hundreds of connections and triggers.
In the search box, type Power Apps, and then select the Power Apps icon.
On the next page, select the Power Apps icon again, and then select New step.
In the box that says Search connectors and actions, specify an action for your flow, as in this example:
Type SharePoint in the box, and then select Create item in the list under Actions.
If prompted, provide credentials to connect to SharePoint.
In the Site Address box, type or paste the URL of a SharePoint Online site that contains a list.
Note
Don't append the name of the list to the URL.
In the List Name box, specify the list that you want to use.
Select the input box for a field in your list (such as Title), select See more in the dynamic-content pane, and then select Ask in Power Apps.
(optional) Specify one or more additional steps, such as sending approval mail to an address that you specify or creating a related entry in another data source.
Near the upper-left corner, type or paste a name for your flow, and then select Save near the upper-right corner.
Add a flow to an app
In the left navigation bar, select Create.
Hover over the Canvas app from blank tile, and then select Make this app.
Add a Text input control, and name it RecordTitle.
Add a Button control, and move it under RecordTitle.
With the Button control selected, select Flows on the Action tab.
In the pane that appears, select the flow that you created in the previous procedure.
Note
If the flow that you created isn't available, confirm whether Power Apps is set to the environment in which you created the flow.
In the formula bar, type or paste RecordTitle.Text) at the end of the formula that's been automatically added.
Test the flow
Double-click the Text input control, and type or paste some text into it.
While holding down the Alt key, select the Button control.
A SharePoint item is created in the list that you specified with the text that you specified as the title. If the list was open when the flow ran, you might need to refresh your browser window to show the changes.