#PowerPlatformTip 109 – ‘Use TimeOut’

💡 Challenge

Approvals or other long-running tasks may take more time than your flow’s default timeout period, risking interruptions and unintended cancellations.

✅ Solution

Adjust action timeout settings and implement error handling so that long-running tasks have sufficient time to complete and flows handle timeouts gracefully.

🔧 How It’s Done

Here’s how to do it:

1. Adjust the Timeout Setting:
   🔸 In the settings of your approval action (or any long-running action), set the “Timeout” duration to a value that accommodates expected delays
   🔸 P2W stands for two weeks
   🔸 P1D represents one day
   🔸 PT2H denotes two hours
   🔸 PT30M for thirty minutes
   🔸 PT45S represents forty-five seconds
2. Implement Error Handling:
   🔸 Use the “Configure run after” feature to manage actions that should occur if the previous action times out. This might involve starting an alternative flow, sending a notification, or initiating a new approval process.
3. Test and Refine:
   🔸 Testing your flow under various conditions will help fine-tune your timeout settings and error-handling logic, ensuring they meet real-world needs.

🎉 Result

Your flows remain operational and adaptable, effectively managing long-running tasks without falling victim to unnecessary timeouts or disruptions.

🌟 Key Advantages

🔸 Reliability: Ensures that your flows can handle tasks that take longer than expected without crashing or stopping.
🔸 Flexibility: Provides options for how to proceed if a long-running task does indeed timeout.
🔸 Efficiency: Keeps your automation process moving forward by automatically addressing potential hiccups.

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🎥 Video Tutorial

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🛠️ FAQ

1. How do I specify custom timeout values in Power Automate?
Use ISO 8601 duration format (e.g., P2W, P1D, PT2H, PT30M, PT45S) in the Timeout field of the action’s settings.

2. Will my flow still fail if an action times out?
If you don’t configure error handling, a timeout will fail the run. Use “Configure run after” to catch timeouts and continue handling.

3. Can I use timeouts with all actions in Power Automate?
Most built-in actions allow timeout configuration. For unsupported actions, consider wrapping them in scopes or alternative logic.

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