How to restore a previous version of a flow

[Anonymous]

I have written a flow that worked, then was modified to add additional functionality, then doesn't work. Trying to revert to the way it was when it worked hasn't worked. The flow will take an unreasonable amount of time to re-write. 

Is there a way to access previous versions of a flow (restore a flow to version 1 from version 34, etc...)?

[efialttes]

@Anonymous 

Did you export the version of the flow you want to restore before modifying it?

https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/import-export-bap-packages/

If so, you can import it again

Hope this helps

[Anonymous]

No. I don't export a flow after every change I make because some are very minor. My challenge is that some changes that seem benign corrupt the entire flow and it is impossible to recover without version history.

[efialttes]

@Anonymous 

I see your point, I also experienced similar problems with complex flows, and it is really frustrating when you find no way but building them again from scratch... the only way I found to avoid is was to export flows everytime I made a change, even if it was minor, and keep a manual record of each change introduced... a procedure that I must confess it is the opposite to automation.

Sorry I cannot help, let's hope somebody else can describe any other feasible way to get back your flow!

[v-bacao-msft]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Currently, Flow does not have such a feature. If you want such a feature to be supported by MS Flow, please try to submit your suggestion in the idea forums. I believe this is a feature worth looking forward to.

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Flow-Ideas/idb-p/FlowIdeas

In addition, I think that the method provided by @efialttes is also worth considering. It is used to export the configuration of the Flow completed in different time periods, so that the previous version can be used according to the date or other records.

Another way you might use is to use Save as to generate a copy, also do some record. If you need to use it, you could edit it directly on the basis of the copy.

Image reference:

Hope it helps.

Best Regards,

[JR-BejeweledOne]

Not trying to be rude, but honestly that's a horrible idea.   Now you have to have storage and a place to put all the flows you export, plus a folder structure etc.  Documentation in case anyone takes over from you.

Versioning like Microsoft has in everything else it does is the best idea.

[knoblar2]

I have not found a way to restore it, but you can go back through the previous run history and reapply steps from that

[andstr05]

I don't see that anyone has actually suggested this as an idea and we are running into this problem too. So here's an idea post:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Automate-Ideas/Power-Automate-Flow-Version-History/idi-p/7...

[aamirghanchi]

there is still no such feature in November 2021. So sad.

[msop]

Sometimes Microsoft is really great, like when they bring us such a product like Power Automate which is so **bleep** cool. And sometimes.... not, because it's like talking to a wall that will never ever move.

[Pushpaindu]

Steps:

1) Export the current flow
https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/import-export-bap-packages/

2) Click on my flows -> select your flow -> click on edit -> then press undo till your previous flow setup

[Anonymous]

The ideal situation would look something like this (for me). Version history with Flows is the foundation. The ability to revert to a prior version would be excellent. Additionally, in the run history, include a column for which version of the Flow this run refers to. If I can see the list of active Flows and their versions, it won't take long to see a trending problem and understand which flows might need restarted under a new version. More data on the run history would be cool too - like who initiated it, the title column (if applicable, like in a list), etc...stuff that makes forensics more efficient.

[Renae_C]

Hey! I might have something that helps. 
Go to My Flows > Choose the Flow > All Runs > Top left says Get .csv file. 
This should give you a .csv of all steps in your flow runs, so that you can copy code from a previous run. 

[spryke]

You just saved me, Renae! Thanks a million 😊

[Renae_C]

My pleasure! 😁

[ARB_wcc]

Wow, this can be used for audit purposes! By asking chatGPT to review the CSV!!

[indhaa]

Hi,

Where is the code in the csv file. I want to check the approval card in my flow. Want to know how the 'if expression' was set in a previous version which was working before. Is it possible get this?

[Renae_C]

Hi indhaa, 

It tends to tell you the step by step trigger/actions that it uses within the flow but doesn't appear to give the deep levels of what was coded. Mostly its giving the responses. So you can see the text that was in place previous to the condition and if that succeeds on the next step. e.g 

Trigger Input: 
},
"body": {
"text": "YES"
}
} 
then the condition runs and then I put a compose action on each outcome. 
Outcome 1:
Compose - Status 
SUCCEEDED 
Compose Input: 
YES
Outcome 2: 
Compose _2 - Status: 
SKIPPED

Sorry I couldn't be of more help in this situation. There is a flow you can run daily (on a schedule) to save your power automate as a json file, which while give you a much deeper level and cover these sorts of things. Let me know if you are interested and I can find it for you. 

[rbishop-etq]

I know this is an older thread, but you all might be interested to see that proper versioning on cloud flows is supposed to be rolling out very soon as indicated here:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/release-plan/2023wave2/power-automate/planned-featu...

[ninihen]

There is a software flowstudio.app that allows users to retrieve the definitions of a Flow at the point in time of previous runs and restore from that snapshot, just with a few clicks:


More information on this page: https://learn.flowstudio.app/restore-power-automate 
 
*Declaimer: I'm part of the Flow Studio team, and this is a paid feature. Though, Flow Studio has a 14 days free trial and you can achieve what you need without needing to pay.