How to Restore and Create a Backup from a Flow

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The most frequently asked question I receive is “How to restore (and create) a backup from a flow to restore earlier versions?”

Unfortunately, there is no simple standard solution, but I will show you some possibilities to avoid this problem in the future. My inspiration for this solution was Audrie Gordon and Pieter Veenstra.

🎯 Three Comprehensive Backup Strategies

1. Third-Party Solution by John Liu

The first and easiest solution is the one I presented in this blog post. It is not free, but it does exactly what we want it to do.

2. Backup and Restore Using Solutions and Power Automate

For this approach, we create a ‘backup’ solution where we add the specific flow (we could also backup multiple flows simultaneously).

Important: The Dataverse actions are NOT premium, and you can use them with standard licensing.

Key Concept: It’s possible to have one flow in multiple solutions. This is what we use here. Significantly, it’s only one flow that is linked multiple times - if we change or restore it, it changes in all locations.

In this solution, the flow is saved with the solution as a ZIP file on OneDrive for Business, but any storage location is possible.

🔄 Backup Process

Steps:

1. Build your flow as shown above
2. SolutionName = Name column in the solution (no spaces)
3. File Content = base64ToBinary(outputs('Perform_an_unbound_action')?['body/ExportSolutionFile'])

🔄 Restore Process

Steps:

1. Choose file from your data storage (here OneDrive for Business)
2. Take the file content $content to the CustomizationFile

3. Backup and Restore Using Power Automate Only

Even if this solution looks most complicated at first sight, I prefer this variant. Here we can either use a child flow or copy this directly into our flow.

Best Practice: Use this only in the development/customization phase so that a backup is created at the end of a successful flow run. This way we always have a backup of the last successful flow.

In this solution, the flow is saved as a JSON file on OneDrive for Business, but any storage location is possible.

📤 Backup Implementation

📥 Restore Implementation

🛠️ Ready-to-Use Flow Templates

Method 2: Solution-Based Backup Templates

Backup Solution Template

{
  "id":"d6ad0518-4a44-45dd-8c0e-08125d42e8d5",
  "brandColor":"#8C3900",
  "connectionReferences":{
    "shared_commondataserviceforapps":{
      "connection":{"id":"/crce7_sharedcommondataserviceforapps_6ab0c"}
    },
    "shared_onedriveforbusiness":{
      "connection":{"id":"/new_sharedonedriveforbusiness_58eca"}
    }
  },
  "connectorDisplayName":"Control",
  "operationName":"Restore_Solution_from_Backup",
  "operationDefinition":{
    "type":"Scope",
    "actions":{
      "Restore_Solution":{
        "type":"Scope",
        "actions":{
          "Create_file":{
            "type":"OpenApiConnection",
            "inputs":{
              "host":{
                "connectionName":"shared_onedriveforbusiness",
                "operationId":"CreateFile"
              },
              "parameters":{
                "folderPath":"/Backup PowerAutomate",
                "name":"@{outputs('Internal_Name_Solution')}_@{utcNow()}.zip",
                "body":"@base64ToBinary(outputs('Perform_an_unbound_action')?['body/ExportSolutionFile'])"
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Restore Solution Template

{
  "id":"964018a8-e7ef-492a-bfa9-2e7cce95b021",
  "operationName":"Restore_Solution_from_Backup",
  "operationDefinition":{
    "type":"Scope",
    "actions":{
      "Variable":{
        "type":"Scope",
        "actions":{
          "Get_file_content":{
            "type":"OpenApiConnection",
            "inputs":{
              "host":{
                "connectionName":"shared_onedriveforbusiness",
                "operationId":"GetFileContent"
              },
              "parameters":{
                "id":"[FILE_ID]",
                "inferContentType":true
              }
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "Restore_Solution":{
        "type":"Scope",
        "actions":{
          "Perform_an_unbound_action_2":{
            "type":"OpenApiConnection",
            "inputs":{
              "host":{
                "connectionName":"shared_commondataserviceforapps",
                "operationId":"PerformUnboundAction"
              },
              "parameters":{
                "actionName":"ImportSolution",
                "item/CustomizationFile":"@body('Get_file_content')?['$content']",
                "item/ImportJobId":"@guid()"
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Method 3: Direct Flow Backup Templates

Flow Backup Template

{
  "id":"2bd5f6d6-9716-41a7-be39-2997816c8d16",
  "operationName":"Export_Flow_to_OneDrive",
  "operationDefinition":{
    "type":"Scope",
    "actions":{
      "Variable":{
        "type":"Compose",
        "inputs":{
          "FlowID":"@{triggerBody()['text']}",
          "EnvironmentID":"@{triggerBody()['text_1']}"
        }
      },
      "Export_Flow":{
        "type":"Scope",
        "actions":{
          "Create_file":{
            "type":"OpenApiConnection",
            "inputs":{
              "host":{
                "connectionName":"shared_onedriveforbusiness_1",
                "operationId":"CreateFile"
              },
              "parameters":{
                "folderPath":"/Backup PowerAutomate",
                "name":"@{outputs('Get_Flow')?['body/properties/displayName']}_@{utcNow()}.json",
                "body":"@outputs('Get_Flow')?['body/properties/definition']"
              }
            }
          },
          "Get_Flow":{
            "type":"OpenApiConnection",
            "inputs":{
              "host":{
                "connectionName":"shared_flowmanagement_1",
                "operationId":"GetFlow"
              },
              "parameters":{
                "environmentName":"@outputs('Variable')?['EnvironmentID']",
                "flowName":"@outputs('Variable')?['FlowID']"
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Flow Restore Template

{
  "id":"e79a25a8-388d-4000-9393-75002528e62a",
  "operationName":"Restore_a_Flow",
  "operationDefinition":{
    "type":"Scope",
    "actions":{
      "Initial":{
        "type":"Scope",
        "actions":{
          "Variable":{
            "type":"Compose",
            "inputs":{
              "EnvironmentID":"@{triggerBody()['text']}",
              "UpdateFlowID":"@{triggerBody()['text_1']}",
              "UpdateFlowName":"@{triggerBody()['text_2']}"
            }
          },
          "Get_file_content":{
            "type":"OpenApiConnection",
            "inputs":{
              "host":{
                "connectionName":"shared_onedriveforbusiness",
                "operationId":"GetFileContentByPath"
              },
              "parameters":{
                "path":"@triggerBody()['text_3']",
                "inferContentType":true
              }
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "Restore":{
        "type":"Scope",
        "actions":{
          "Update_Flow_2":{
            "type":"OpenApiConnection",
            "inputs":{
              "host":{
                "connectionName":"shared_flowmanagement",
                "operationId":"UpdateFlow"
              },
              "parameters":{
                "environmentName":"@outputs('Variable')?['EnvironmentID']",
                "flowName":"@outputs('Variable')?['UpdateFlowID']",
                "Flow/properties/displayName":"@outputs('Variable')?['UpdateFlowName']",
                "Flow/properties/definition":"@json(base64ToString(base64(outputs('Get_file_content')?['body'])))",
                "Flow/properties/state":"Started"
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

🎯 Implementation Strategies

Development Phase Best Practices

1. Automated Backups: Implement backup triggers at the end of successful flow runs
2. Version Control: Use naming conventions with timestamps
3. Testing Environment: Always test restore procedures in development
4. Documentation: Keep track of which backups correspond to which versions

Production Considerations

1. Scheduled Backups: Set up regular backup schedules
2. Multiple Storage Locations: Consider redundant backup storage
3. Access Control: Secure backup files appropriately
4. Retention Policies: Implement backup retention strategies

🔧 Technical Requirements

Method 2 (Solutions) Requirements:

• Dataverse connection (included in standard licensing)
• OneDrive for Business or alternative storage
• Solution management permissions
• Flow creation rights

Method 3 (Direct Flow) Requirements:

• Flow Management connector
• Storage location (OneDrive, SharePoint, etc.)
• Environment and Flow IDs
• Flow modification permissions

💡 Advanced Tips

Error Handling

• Implement robust error handling in backup flows
• Include retry logic for failed backup attempts
• Add notifications for backup success/failure

Performance Optimization

• Use chunked transfer for large flow definitions
• Consider compression for storage efficiency
• Implement selective backup (only changed flows)

Security Considerations

• Encrypt sensitive backup files
• Use service accounts for automated backups
• Implement proper access controls on backup storage

🎯 Key Takeaways

• No native backup: Power Automate lacks built-in version control
• Multiple approaches: Choose based on your specific needs and constraints
• Solutions method: Best for environment-level backup and restore
• Direct flow method: Most flexible for individual flow management
• Development integration: Build backup into your development workflow
• Testing crucial: Always test restore procedures before you need them

🔄 Future Considerations

Microsoft continues to enhance Power Automate capabilities. Keep an eye on:

• Native versioning features
• Enhanced solution management
• Automated backup services
• Integration improvements with DevOps pipelines

This comprehensive backup strategy ensures your critical Power Automate flows are protected and recoverable, providing peace of mind and business continuity.

This article was originally published on Marcel Lehmann’s blog and has been migrated to PowerPlatformTip for better accessibility and searchability.