Need help with update error: Error occurred while communicating with the cloud services.

[User1314]

It was working completely fine until I updated Power Automate Desktop and then encountered this error. I tried researching online and tried different things but nothing seemed to work. I uninstalled it and removed it from all sources (program files, appdata etc.) reinstalled it and then encountered the exact same error. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this? I would really appreciate some help!

[v-xiaochen-msft]

Hi @User1314 ,

Please take a look at this documentation.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-US/troubleshoot/power-platform/power-automate/cannot-sign-in-create-e...

Will it help you?

Best Regards,

Wearsky

[User1314]

Thank you for reaching out but it's not a sign in error. I can sign on but as it is loading the environment it prompts the error shown above. The application also worked well until I updated it to the newer version.

[ksdgfbiwebfkeqb]

I have exactly the same problem, since upgrading this morning to build 2.28 January 2023 update of Power Automate for desktop | Power Automate Blog (microsoft.com) v2.28.267.23013. "An Error occurred while communicating with the cloud services. Make sure that access to the required cloud services aren't blocked and try again"

I changed the registry setting to disable the new certificate check HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Power Automate Desktop\DisableCheckCertificateRevocationList=1 but that didn't help. I have another computer on the same subnet I have not updated yet, it's still on v2.22.00205.22189 and it runs perfectly, I'm declining the update on that computer until this error can be resolved. I have not found any release notes online about changes to URLs etc. in this build that could be causing the error.

[User1314]

Yeah unfortunately I lost all my flows due to this. I never expected an update to cause this, I am stuck because the re-installation didn't work. 

[ksdgfbiwebfkeqb]

Uninstall Power Automate Desktop then download this installer for the previous build https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2102613 from December 2022 update of Power Automate for desktop | Power Automate Blog (microsoft.com) and you should be back up and running. It just worked for me. Hope there's more info for a real fix soon.

[User1314]

Oh interesting, I was thinking about trying to re-install an older version. I just gave it a shot but unfortunately it didn't work. I even tried the November 2022 link too but for some reason it just keeps giving the same error. I suppose I will have to wait until they either fix this or a new version is released and hope for the best. Unless there is some other option.

[ksdgfbiwebfkeqb]

When you reinstall there’s a list of checkmarks about what components you want to install. I selected everything except the 2nd from the bottom, something about additional data collection. On that screen try unchecking the option for the Machine Runtime that allows connections from the cloud portal, I can’t recall the exact wording now but it’s near the top. Maybe without that Portal connection component it will work. 

[User1314]

Yeah! I had the same thought! I tried unchecking that one and there is another box that is slightly similar and I unchecked that as well but unfortunately no luck. I thought for sure it would work, it's a very strange error.

[pm7158]

I lost all my flows as well.

[Ciaran]

I have the same error.  I have tried all the solutions listed on forum but to no avail.  I have just raised a ticket with Microsoft and await their response.  If I receive anything back i will gladly share it

[Ciaran · Accepted solution]

Microsoft replied with this and it has solved my issues.  Hope it helps you all.

I have been speaking with the PAD Product Group and this could potentially be related to a new feature in version 2.28 where the client now checks for valid certificates on the machine for the user logging in.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/released-versions/power-automate-desktop/2301#new-f...

There is a workaround provided for this which is to amend the RegEdit key to allow users with invalid certificates to log in.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/power-automate/desktop-flows/governance#allow-users-with-invalid-c...

[pm7158]

Thank you for sharing these Ciaran. I have a question, the steps provided in the work around are supposed to be done by Admin? If I am a user, should I contact admin? Thanks!

[User1314]

Thank you all for your help! I was about to try the RegEdit workaround when I was able to randomly get it working again. I had a last minute thought to see if I could somehow recover my lost flows after uninstalling everything. I ended up reinstalling Power Automate and then went into the recycle bin to get the Power Automate Desktop folder I deleted previously and replaced it with the new one that is in local app data just hoping it would somehow restore my flows and everything and it did!

[pm7158]

Hello! Can you please give details steps for this work around? Thanks!

[Ciaran]

Hi, I am sorry, I am not a tekkie.  My IT dept. took the advice I provided in this solution and made changes to the registration keys.  That is all I know.  I'm sorry I cant help any further.

[bundy]

Hello. I have a question.
Could you tell which certificate this function is checking?

thank you.