Introduction
Environment Variables in Microsoft Power Platform are a powerful feature that allow you to store configuration values separately from your application logic. They play a critical role in making solutions more portable, maintainable, and scalable across different environments such as Development, Test, and Production.
Instead of hardcoding values like URLs, IDs, email addresses, or API keys inside Power Apps or Power Automate flows, Environment Variables enable you to define these values once and change them as needed when moving solutions between environments.
What are Environment Variables?
An Environment Variable is a configuration setting stored in Dataverse that can be referenced by:
They are included as part of a Solution and consist of two main components:
Environment Variable Definition: Defines the variable name, type, and default value.
Environment Variable Value: Stores the actual value for that specific environment.
This separation ensures flexibility and consistency across different deployment stages.
Why Use Environment Variables?
1. Environment-Specific Configuration
Different environments often require different values. For example:
SharePoint Site URLs
API endpoints
Email distribution lists
File paths
Environment variables allow you to easily switch these values without modifying your app or flow.
2. Improved Maintainability
Changing configuration values becomes easier and safer, reducing the risk of introducing errors during updates.
3. Better Application Portability
When importing solutions into new environments, you are prompted to set environment variable values, ensuring smooth deployment.
4. Centralized Configuration Management
All variables are stored in one place, making them easy to monitor and manage.
Types of Environment Variables
Power Platform supports multiple data types for environment variables:
Each type is suited for different configuration needs.
Common Use Cases
SharePoint site URLs for different environments
API base URLs for integration
Email addresses for notification systems
Threshold values for business logic
Feature toggles (enable/disable functionalities)
How Environment Variables Work
You create a variable in your solution.
Define its default value.
Set specific values per environment.
Reference the variable in Power Apps or Power Automate.
When you move the solution, the target environment asks for new values.
This ensures your application behaves correctly without manual code changes.
Using Environment Variables in Power Platform
How to Create Environment Variable
Step-by-step
Go to Power Apps → Solutions
Open your Solution
Click New → More → Environment Variable
Fill details:
Definition Tab
| Field | Example |
|---|
| Display Name | Site URL |
| Name | Contoso_SiteURL |
| Data Type | Text |
| Default Value | https://company.sharepoint.com/sites/dev |
How to Set Actual Value (Environment Specific)
After saving:
Go to Environment Variable Values section
Click + New Environment Variable Value
Set value like: (This value overrides the default value.)
https://company.sharepoint.com/sites/production
IMPORTANT: Publish Before Using
You MUST publish the solution:
Solutions → Select Solution → Publish All Customizations
Otherwise, Power Apps won't detect the variable.
Best Practices
Always use environment variables for configuration values instead of hardcoding.
Use meaningful names and descriptions.
Separate environment-specific settings clearly.
Store sensitive data using the Secret type.
Regularly review and maintain unused variables.
Advantages
Conclusion
Environment Variables are an essential feature of Microsoft Power Platform that help create robust, scalable, and maintainable applications. By separating configuration from logic, they enable seamless movement of solutions across environments while ensuring consistent performance and reduced risk.