Can't interact with the desktop application without an error message

This article provides a resolution to an issue where you can't interact with the desktop application without an error message in Microsoft Power Automate.

Applies to:   Power Automate
Original KB number:   5003775

Symptoms

You may encounter the following issues:

1. Mouse clicks or keystrokes aren't sent to the target application, without an error message.
2. Desktop recorder doesn't recognize the elements of the desktop application.

Verifying issue

You can open the Power Automate for desktop Designer and try to interact with the desktop application with one of the following actions:

• Send keys
• Send mouse click
• Move mouse to image

Additionally, open the Desktop recorder and try to capture an element within the application.

Both the above operations can't be performed without any error message.

Cause

The application runs with more elevated privileges than Power Automate for desktop.

Resolution

Both the application and Power Automate for desktop should run with the same privileges.

Power Automate for desktop doesn't run elevated by default. Hence, uncheck the Run this program as an administrator checkbox in the Compatibility section of the application's Properties window.

Another option is to set Power Automate for desktop to run as admin as well.