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Most issues in Flows Building are caused by small configuration mistakes rather than system faults.
This article highlights common mistakes users make when building flows and explains how to avoid them.
Flow Not Published
One of the most common issues is forgetting to publish a flow.
What happens
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The flow exists only as a draft
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No triggers or actions will run
How to avoid it
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Always publish after making changes
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Confirm the flow status shows as published
Triggers Too Broad or Too Narrow
Triggers that are not configured carefully can cause flows to behave unexpectedly.
Too broad
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The flow runs more often than intended
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Actions trigger unnecessarily
Too narrow
- The flow rarely or never runs
How to avoid it
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Review trigger conditions carefully
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Test with real or sample events
Conditions in the Wrong Order
Conditions must be placed before actions that depend on them.
Common issue
- Actions execute before required conditions are checked
How to avoid it
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Validate logic step-by-step
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Ensure conditions come before dependent actions
Missing Required Fields
Some actions require mandatory fields to run successfully.
What happens
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The flow triggers but actions fail
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Data is incomplete or rejected
How to avoid it
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Check all required fields
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Validate input data before actions run
Making Too Many Changes at Once
Large or multiple changes make it difficult to identify the cause of issues.
How to avoid it
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Make one change at a time
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Test after each update
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Publish incrementally
Not Testing Before Publishing
Publishing without testing can cause unexpected behaviour in live environments.
How to avoid it
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Use test events where available
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Validate logic paths manually
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Review recent changes before publishing
Assuming External Systems Will Always Respond
Flows often rely on external systems.
What happens
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Actions fail when external services are unavailable
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Errors propagate through the flow
How to avoid it
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Plan for failures
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Validate inputs and outputs
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Monitor behaviour after publishing
Ignoring Permissions and Access Limits
Users without proper access may not be able to edit or publish flows.
How to avoid it
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Confirm user permissions
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Limit publishing access to authorised users
When to Review a Flow for Mistakes
You should review a flow if:
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It behaves differently than expected
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Actions fail intermittently
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It runs too often or not often enough
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Changes were made recently
Most issues can be resolved by reviewing logic and configuration.
Next Steps
If reviewing common mistakes does not resolve the issue:
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Recheck triggers, conditions and actions
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Confirm the flow is published
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Review permissions
If problems persist, see Troubleshooting Flows Building issues.
Related Articles
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Understanding triggers, conditions & actions
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Editing, versioning & publishing flows
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Managing access & permissions in Flows Building
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Troubleshooting Flows Building issues