Change the owner of a cloud flow and Impact

Flow ownership in Microsoft Power Automate refers to the responsibilities and privileges associated with managing a specific flow. Here’s a deeper look:

Role of a Flow Owner:

• Management: The flow owner has full control over a flow. They can edit it, manage its triggers and actions, troubleshoot issues, and even delete the flow if necessary.
• Permissions and Sharing: They determine who can access the flow. The owner can share it with others, giving them roles like co-owner or run-only permissions.
• Monitoring: Owners can track the flow’s performance, review its run history, and address any errors or exceptions.
• Licensing: The licensing associated with the flow owner can influence which features are available and ensure compliance with premium capabilities.

Flow Ownership Transfer:

• Ownership of a flow is particularly important when the current owner changes roles or leaves the organization. In these cases, transferring ownership ensures that the flow continues running smoothly without disruptions.
• For solution-aware flows, ownership can be transferred directly to another individual or service account.
• For non-solution-aware flows, there isn’t a straightforward transfer option. Instead, you might need to use alternative methods like exporting/importing the flow or moving it into a solution (if Dataverse is available).

Use of Service Principal Application Users:

• A Service Principal is a non-human identity that can own flows. This is especially useful for ensuring continuity when people leave the organization.
• Service Principals are non-interactive and don’t require user licenses but are subject to specific licensing and usage limits.

Impact of Licensing:

• If ownership changes and the new owner lacks a premium license, flows using premium features will enter a 30-day grace period. Afterward, the flow is turned off unless the new owner obtains the necessary license.

The ownership structure allows organizations to maintain accountability and operational continuity, making it easier to manage automations effectively.