Power Automate Desktop image matching is still fragile in real lists
A Power Platform Community thread posted on 6 June 2026 describes Power Automate Desktop selecting the wrong repeated image in a dropdown list. The maker reports that the target row only succeeds after repeated retries, and community replies recommend avoiding image matching when better UI element, text, or data extraction options exist.
Image recognition is tempting because it feels simple: show Power Automate Desktop the thing to click, then let it click it. The problem is that repeated icons, dynamic lists, hover states, and tooltips can make the screen look obvious to a human but ambiguous to automation. For business flows that update finance, HR, booking, or operational systems, a wrong click is worse than a failed run. The flow may continue, but the record or choice it selected is not the one the maker intended.
Analysis
Review any desktop flows that use image matching against repeated list rows or dropdowns. Where possible, replace the step with a web/UI element action, text targeting, extracted list data, or a controlled index lookup.
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