How To: Get started with Power Automate Desktop
Author: Friederike Eichholz & Anette Gustavsson
Date: 2025-05-15
Required installations before:
- Power Automate Desktop App
- If you have Windows 11, most likely the app is already pre-installed
- Else, you can download it from the Company Portal
- Power Automate browser extension
- Check that you have extension installed by look for your preferred browser, e.g. Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome
(Below shows that Edge extension is already installed)
- If Admin rights are required to install the extension; thus, you need to Other services : Oatly
- Give the request a good name e.g. "Power Automate browser extension (Egde)" the link the extension for your preferred browser, e.g. Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome
- Also to speed upp the process provide your device name so that they can allow the extension for power automate: Do you need help locating your computer name? - Microsoft Support
These links can be very helpful at the beginning of your automation journey:
Flow Running Tip
To ensure your flow runs efficiently, start it from the Flows overview rather than from within the flow itself. This approach significantly speeds up the operational execution.
How to share flows with your coworkers with the PAD free version
- Open the flow, that you want to share.
- Select all actions with Ctrl + A and copy the actions with Ctrl + C.
- Paste the actions into a text file, e.g. txt with the Notepad app, with Ctrl + V and save and name the file at your preferred location with Ctrl + S.
- Send the file to your coworker.
How to add shared flows from your coworkers with the PAD free version
- Open the txt file that your coworker shared with you.
- Select the text of the entire file with Ctrl + A and copy it with Ctrl + C.
- Open the Power Automate Desktop app and create a new flow. If not specifically said by the sender of the flow.
- If not specifically stated by the sender of the flow, do NOT enable Power Fx.
- The newly created flow will open automatically. Click on the white area in the Main section and paste the actions from the txt file with Ctrl + V. They will automatically get the correct format.
If you have further questions or issues, feel free to contact Friederike Eichholz (Friederike.Eichholz@oatly.com)