How to use environment variable in power automate desktop?

[Sanket1]

Hi Team,

I want use env variable in PAD.

I want to store mail ids in env var and use that in pad email action.

If in future I want to change mail id then I dont want to go to code and change in code . 
Instead just change in env var.

[VishnuReddy1997]

Hi @Sanket1 ,

In Power Automate Desktop, you can’t directly access environment variables from a desktop flow. However, here are a couple of workarounds:

1.Input Parameters:

Create input parameters in your desktop flow.
When invoking your desktop flow from a cloud flow, pass the environment variable values as input to your Power Automate Desktop flow.

2.Get Windows Environment Variable:
If you’re looking for machine-related variables (not Power Platform environment variables), use the “Get Windows Environment Variable” action in Power Automate Desktop.
This action allows you to retrieve system environment variables.

(Note:- if you got your solution you can mark as solution and gives kudos)

Thanks & Regards

Vishnu Reddy

[NathanAlvares24 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Sanket1 !

First you would need to create an environment variable for that to happen. As you cannot create environment variables in PAD.

• Open the Start menu, search for "Environment Variables," and select "Edit the system environment variables."
• In the System Properties window, click the "Environment Variables" button.
• In the Environment Variables window, click "New" under the "System variables" section.
• Enter the variable name (e.g., MailIds) and the variable value (e.g., example1@example.com;example2@example.com). Click "OK" to save.

Then you can use the action "Get environment variable", specify the name of the environment variable here for me it is "Mailids" (take from the dropdown) and then use that variable for your "Send email" action.

Please note for sending multiple people you would need each email id separated with semi colon ';'

I also have other better methods as I use these in my work:

Method 1: Use an XML config file

This is a much cleaner method. All you need to do is create an XML file and store the email Ids in that. And then use XML actions from PAD to get the info from the XML file using Xpath.

Method 2: Use the Dataverse Tables

This is a more secure method and its a new feature introduced in Power Automate Desktop.

All you need to do is create a table in Power Apps, add the information in that, and then use Dataverse actions in Power Automate Desktop. So in this there is no need to update the input variables in PAD, just update the information in your Dataverse table.

Let me show you what I usually do this for:

I usually use Dataverse tables for credentials which are sensitive data as there is no credential vaults or if you need a credential vault like CyberArk or Azure you would need to pay which is for sure nobody will do that. Dataverse is free and security is high.

This is mostly used if you are using "send email" action in PAD.

Then in PAD you just have to use these actions,

Method 3: Use Power Automate Cloud and Desktop combined, create env. variable in a solution, and then use that variable as input for "Run a flow built with Power Automate for desktop" action

All you need to do is create a solution, import your cloud flow into that solution. This cloud flow should contain the action, "Run a flow built with Power Automate for desktop". Then create an environment variable, type in the path in the default value field, edit your cloud flow, add your environment variable in that. And Voila!! Just run your flow. See below:

Add existing cloud flow or you can create a new one.

Add the environment variable. Only this needs to be updated

All this can happen only if your desktop has an input variable. That's when you can add the environment variable to your cloud flow as it gives a prompt to enter an input field.

[Sayan]

Hey @Sanket1 

In Power Automate You Can't Access Env variable directly. You can store in your Windows System.

Also If you can store the Values in Excel and you can Access easily. When you need to change the value you have to change it only in Excel.

Please Refer the below Video for more :

Config File in PAD 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If my suggestion helps you Give a Thumbs up and Marks as a Solution. It motivates to solve more problems.

Thanks,

Sayan Patra

RPA Developer

[Rahul_Patel]

Thank you so much @NathanAlvares24-You are awesome man