Power Automate Desktop Flow Failing in Unattended Mode

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Fix the session

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   1. Sign out of all user accounts on the target machine for unattended runs
   2. In the portal check the machine setting to reuse sessions for unattended runs
   3. For attended runs keep an unlocked session
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Match the environment

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   1. Use the same screen resolution and scaling as the attended machine
   2. Start the app in the same window mode
   3. Recapture selectors on the unattended machine with the UI element picker
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Check services and logs

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   1. Confirm Power Automate services are running
   2. Run the Power Automate troubleshooter on the machine
   3. Add screenshot on error and check Event Viewer
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

A desktop flow works when you run it yourself but fails from the cloud with UI element not found, a user session error, or the machine not reachable.

Why it happens

• Different screen resolution or scaling
• Active or locked user session
• UI flow service stopped
• Selectors that no longer match
• Remote desktop disconnected

This guide also covers

• power automate desktop unattended not working
• power automate desktop flow failed
• power automate machine not reachable

Other Microsoft Power Automate errors

• Power Automate Flow Not Triggering
• Power Automate Flow Failed
• Power Automate Connection Error (401 Unauthorized)
• Power Automate Flow Turned Off Automatically
• Power Automate 429 Too Many Requests Error
• Why Is My Power Automate Flow So Slow
• Power Automate Premium License Required Error
• Power Automate Excel Table Not Found Error