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Laura_Measey's avatar
Laura_Measey
Copper Contributor
Oct 27, 2026

Inconsistent behaviour populating Word template from Microsoft List via Power Automate

I'm using a Premium Power Automate and using a series of flows to manage an approval process and populate a Word template from a Microsoft List using content controls at each stage of approval. Approval occurs at several stages in a workflow and, in most cases, works correctly.

However, I have two issues occurring at specific points in the process, despite the flows, mappings, list columns and content controls being configured identically to other stages that work correctly.

Issue 1 - Field not populating Word template

  • Data entered into the Microsoft List is present and saved correctly.
  • One specific field (Q1) fails to populate its corresponding content control in the Word template, leaving it blank.
  • Other fields populate correctly.
  • The same field and content control setup works correctly at other stages of the process.

Issue 2 - Field reverting to previous value

  • A different field (Q2) behaves unexpectedly when an amendment is made in the Microsoft List.
  • The user updates the field and saves the item successfully.
  • The updated value is visible in the list.
  • When the flow triggers, this specific field reverts back to its previous value and the Word template is populated with the old information.
  • All other fields retain their updated values.
  • This only occurs at one or two stages of the process. Elsewhere, the same setup works as expected.

Troubleshooting already completed

  • Confirmed the data exists in the Microsoft List.
  • Checked list column settings and data types.
  • Checked Word template content controls.
  • Deleted and recreated the affected actions.
  • Copied actions from working flows and also rebuilt them from scratch.
  • Reviewed dynamic content mappings.
  • Exhausted all troubleshooting steps suggested by Copilot.

Has anyone experienced fields intermittently failing to populate Word content controls, or list column values reverting to a previous value when a flow runs? Any guidance on what else I should investigate would be appreciated.

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