Why does my agent randomly stop responding mid-conversation?

Nine times out of ten, it's hitting the conversation timeout limit or running into a Power Automate flow that's taking forever to respond. Check your [Flow analytics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/flows-overview) for failures and timeouts. The conversation debugger will show you exactly where it died - usually with a helpful error like "ConversationExecutionTimeout: Flow execution exceeded 120000ms threshold" which means "something took too long, but we won't tell you which step." Quick fix: Add timeout handling to your flows and set realistic expectations. Your ERP system from 2003 is not going to respond in under 30 seconds, no matter how much you ask nicely.

My generative answers are confidently wrong about everything

Welcome to the wonderful world of AI hallucination. Your agent is probably working with outdated or conflicting knowledge sources. Check your [knowledge sources analytics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/analytics-overview) to see which documents are being used and when they were last updated. **Debug steps:** 1. Open the conversation transcript and check which knowledge sources were cited 2. Verify those sources actually contain the information the agent claims 3. Update or remove outdated knowledge sources 4. Add explicit instructions to say "I don't know" instead of guessing

Why is my agent burning through credits like a crypto miner?

Because every time someone asks "How's the weather?" your agent calls three different Power Automate flows, queries Dataverse twice, and checks SharePoint for good measure. The [usage analytics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/analytics-overview) will show you exactly which conversations are credit black holes. **Common culprits:** - Generative actions calling multiple flows for simple questions - Knowledge sources that trigger expensive searches - Users having 20-minute philosophical discussions with your expense bot - Autonomous agents running wild in the background

My Teams integration works perfectly, but web chat keeps breaking

This is a feature, not a bug. Microsoft Teams integration is first-class because that's where Microsoft wants you to live. [Web chat](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/publication-connect-bot-to-web-channels) gets the basic text experience and whatever UI elements didn't break during testing. **Reality check:** Your beautiful adaptive cards become plain text in web chat. Your file upload features might not work. Plan for the lowest common denominator or stick to Teams.

Authentication keeps breaking with "access denied" errors

Your bot is probably trying to access resources the user doesn't have permissions for. Check the [Azure AD integration](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/configuration-authentication-azure-ad) and make sure your app registration has the right permissions. **Debug process:** 1. Test with a user who definitely has the right permissions 2. Check the Azure AD logs for failed authentication attempts 3. Verify your app registration permissions match what your bot actually needs 4. Remember that SSO doesn't mean "ignore all security"

My agent went viral internally and burned through our monthly budget in 3 days. How do I stop the bleeding?

**Immediate actions:**1. Use the [agent quarantine features](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/release-plan/2025wave1/microsoft-copilot-studio/use-powershell-quarantine-block-potentially-unsecured-agents) to disable the runaway agent2. Set [capacity limits](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/manage-copilot-studio-messages-capacity) on all remaining agents3. Check the usage analytics to identify which conversations consumed the most credits4. Add conversation boundaries before re-enabling**Prevention:** Set credit limits from day one, not after the disaster. Your helpful assistant should have guardrails, not unlimited spending authority.

Users are getting timeout errors but my flows show as "successful"

Your flows are probably taking longer than the conversation timeout (30 seconds) but eventually completing. The user sees a timeout, but the flow keeps running in the background, potentially making changes.**Debug steps:**1. Check flow run times in [Power Automate analytics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/monitor-manage-processes)2. Look for flows that complete after 30+ seconds3. Optimize slow operations or break them into async processes4. Consider using [autonomous agents](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/authoring-triggers-about) for long-running operations

My knowledge sources are accurate but the AI keeps giving wrong answers

The AI is probably finding the right documents but misinterpreting the content. Check the [generative answers citations](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/nlu-boost-conversations) to see exactly which text snippets are being used.**Common issues:**- Documents with conflicting information confusing the AI- Context that requires human judgment being interpreted literally- Outdated information that hasn't been removed from knowledge sources- Technical documentation being used to answer policy questions**Quick fix:** Add explicit instructions about how to interpret ambiguous information and when to escalate to humans.

Authentication works for some users but not others

Classic permissions problem. Your bot is authenticated but individual users don't have access to the resources it's trying to reach.**Diagnostic process:**1. Test with a user who definitely has the right permissions2. Check Azure AD logs for authentication failures3. Verify the failing users have access to the underlying SharePoint sites/APIs4. Look for conditional access policies that might be blocking programmatic access

My agent keeps calling the wrong Power Automate flows

The [generative orchestration](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/advanced-generative-actions) is getting confused about which flows to call when. This happens when flow descriptions are unclear or when flows have overlapping purposes.**Solutions:**- Make flow descriptions extremely specific about their purpose- Separate flows that handle similar but distinct tasks- Add explicit triggers that guide the AI toward the right flow- Test with edge cases that might confuse the orchestration logic

File uploads work in Teams but fail everywhere else

[File upload capabilities](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/image-input-analysis) vary dramatically by channel. Teams has full support, web chat has limited support, and some channels don't support files at all.**Channel-specific file support:**- **Teams:** Full file upload and analysis support- **Web chat:** Basic file upload, limited file types- **SharePoint:** Depends on site permissions- **WhatsApp:** Text only, no file support**Workaround:** Design different conversation flows for different channels, or stick to Teams if file handling is critical.

My bot is responding in the wrong language randomly

Language detection is failing when users mix languages or use technical terms. The bot defaults to whatever language it thinks it detected, which might not match user expectations.**Common triggers:**- Users typing company acronyms or technical terms- Mixed-language conversations (English request, Spanish interface)- Regional language variants confusing the detection**Fix:** Set explicit language preferences in your [agent language settings](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/authoring-language-support) instead of relying on automatic detection.

Error messages are useless and don't help users understand what went wrong

Microsoft's default error messages are designed for developers, not end users. Customize your error handling to provide meaningful feedback.**Better error message patterns:**- Instead of "ConversationFlowExecutionException: Execution terminated at node 'Check_User_Access'" → "I'm having trouble accessing that information right now. Please try again in a few minutes."- Instead of "System.ArgumentNullException at Microsoft.Bot.Builder.Dialogs.DialogContext.BeginDialogAsync" → "I need more information to help you. Could you provide [specific details]?"- Instead of "MessageActivityTimeoutException: Flow execution exceeded 120000ms threshold" → "That request is taking longer than expected. I've submitted it and you'll get an update shortly."

My analytics show high abandonment rates but I don't know why

Users are starting conversations but not completing them. Check the [conversation analytics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/analytics-overview) to see exactly where people give up.**Common abandonment points:**- Authentication prompts that don't work properly- Long waits for Power Automate flows to complete- Confusing conversation flows that don't match user expectations- Requests for information users don't have or can't provide**Solution:** Simplify the conversation flow and add progress indicators for long operations. People will wait if they know something is happening.

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Microsoft Copilot Studio: Production Debugging & Performance Guide

Critical Production Failures

Agent Response Failures

Symptom: Agent stops responding mid-conversation
Root Cause: Conversation timeout (120 seconds) or Power Automate flow failures
Detection: Error "ConversationExecutionTimeout: Flow execution exceeded 120000ms threshold"
Impact: Complete conversation termination, user frustration
Solution: Add timeout handling to flows, set realistic expectations for slow systems (ERP systems from 2003 won't respond under 30 seconds)

Generative Answer Hallucination

Symptom: AI provides confident but incorrect responses
Root Cause: Outdated/conflicting knowledge sources
Detection: Check knowledge sources analytics for citation accuracy
Impact: Misinformation spread, user trust loss
Solution:

Verify cited sources contain claimed information
Update/remove outdated knowledge sources
Add explicit "I don't know" instructions

Credit Consumption Disasters

Symptom: Monthly budget consumed in days
Root Cause: Expensive operations (multiple flows, long conversations, autonomous agents)
Detection: Usage analytics showing 50+ credits per conversation
Impact: Budget depletion, service shutdown
Critical Actions:

Enable agent quarantine immediately
Set capacity limits on all agents
Identify high-consumption conversations
Add conversation boundaries before re-enabling

Performance Optimization

Credit Cost Structure

Basic responses: 1 credit
Generative AI responses: 2+ credits
Knowledge source queries: Variable (based on complexity/data volume)
Power Automate flow calls: Can cascade into expensive API calls

High-Impact Optimizations

Front-load simple responses: Handle FAQ with topic-based responses before expensive generative AI
Batch API calls: Single CRM call instead of three separate calls
Cache expensive operations: Store product catalog in Dataverse vs. repeated ERP queries
Set conversation boundaries: Prevent philosophical discussions with expense bots

Power Automate Performance Killers

Loop operations: 10 items work, 1,000 items timeout - use filter queries and pagination
Sequential API calls: Run parallel branches (30 seconds → 5 seconds)
Complex condition logic: 15 nested conditions create debugging nightmares
Missing error handling: Flows hang on API rate limits/timeouts

Authentication & Permissions

Common Authentication Failures

Pattern: Works for admins, fails for regular users
Root Cause: Permissions mismatch between bot capabilities and user access
Debug Process:

Test with Global Admin first
Verify user can manually access resources
Check app registration permissions
Review conditional access policies

Channel-Specific Limitations

Channel	File Upload	Rich Cards	Authentication
Teams	Full support	Full support	SSO integrated
Web chat	Limited types	Plain text only	Pop-up issues
SharePoint	Permission-dependent	Basic rendering	Site-based

Emergency Response Procedures

Budget Overrun Crisis

Immediate: Use agent quarantine features to disable runaway agent
Control: Set capacity limits on remaining agents
Analysis: Check usage analytics for credit consumption patterns
Prevention: Add conversation boundaries before re-enabling

Timeout Errors with "Successful" Flows

Issue: Flows complete after 30+ seconds but users see timeout
Risk: Background processes continue, potentially making unwanted changes
Solution: Optimize slow operations or use autonomous agents for long-running tasks

Knowledge Source Misinterpretation

Issue: AI finds correct documents but provides wrong answers
Detection: Check generative answers citations for text snippet usage
Common Causes:

Conflicting information in knowledge sources
Technical documentation used for policy questions
Context requiring human judgment interpreted literally

Monitoring & Alerting Requirements

Critical Metrics to Monitor

Daily credit consumption alerts (deviation from baseline)
Conversation abandonment tracking (identify frustration points)
Flow failure rates (catch integration problems)
Response quality metrics (speed vs. accuracy balance)

Red Flag Indicators

Single conversations consuming 50+ credits
High abandonment rates after expensive operations
Users repeatedly asking same questions (poor answer quality)
Peak usage periods exceeding monthly allocations

Configuration That Actually Works in Production

Knowledge Source Optimization

Break large PDFs: Company-wide documents into topic-focused files
Configure Azure AI Search properly: Use structured searches with metadata vs. generic search
Cache stable data: Org charts change quarterly, not per conversation
Respect user permissions: Structure knowledge sources to filter by access from start

Error Message Customization

Replace developer-focused errors with user-friendly messages:

"ConversationFlowExecutionException" → "I need more information to help you"
"MessageActivityTimeoutException" → "Request taking longer than expected, you'll get an update shortly"
"System.ArgumentNullException" → "I'm having trouble accessing that information right now"

Resource Requirements

Expertise Needed

Power Automate flow optimization (critical for performance)
Azure AD integration knowledge (authentication debugging)
SharePoint permissions understanding (knowledge source access)
Credit optimization strategies (budget management)

Time Investment

Initial setup with proper monitoring: 2-3 weeks
Performance optimization: 1-2 weeks ongoing
Emergency response procedures: Immediate (quarantine tools)
Knowledge source maintenance: Weekly reviews recommended

Breaking Points & Failure Modes

Scale Limitations

UI breaks at 1000 spans: Makes debugging large distributed transactions impossible
30-second conversation timeout: Hard limit causing flow failures
API rate limits: Monday morning email volumes kill integrations
SharePoint list processing: 2GB lists processed row-by-row cause timeouts

Common Misconceptions

"It worked in test environment" - Production users enter emojis, have different permissions
Teams integration quality = web chat quality - Teams gets first-class treatment
Global Admin testing = real user experience - Privileges hide permission problems
Flow "success" = user success - Flows can complete after timeout with user seeing failure

Critical Warnings

What Documentation Doesn't Tell You

Web chat capabilities are significantly limited compared to Teams
File upload features vary dramatically by channel
Authentication that works for developers often fails for end users
Credit consumption can scale exponentially with user adoption
Power Automate "success" doesn't mean user saw success

"This Will Break If" Scenarios

ERP systems older than 5 years without timeout handling
SharePoint lists modified without notification to bot owners
API rate limits hit during peak usage (Monday mornings)
Users discover conversation capabilities beyond intended scope
Global Admin builds/tests vs. regular user deployment

Decision Criteria for Alternatives

When to Use Teams vs. Web Chat

Teams: File uploads critical, rich UI needed, SSO requirements
Web chat: Basic text interaction, external user access, lightweight deployment

When to Cache vs. Live Data

Cache: Stable organizational data, frequently accessed reference information
Live: Real-time transaction data, user-specific dynamic content

When to Use Autonomous Agents

Use: Long-running operations (>30 seconds), background processing
Avoid: Simple Q&A, real-time user interaction, budget-sensitive scenarios

Useful Links for Further Investigation

Essential Debugging Resources

Link	Description
Conversation Debugger and Testing	Your primary weapon against broken conversation flows. Actually useful once you learn to decode Microsoft's error messages.
Analytics and Monitoring	Where to find the data that explains why your bot is bankrupting your department or confusing your users.
Error Codes Reference	Microsoft's attempt to explain what their cryptic error messages actually mean. Better than nothing.
Power Automate Flow Analytics	Essential for debugging flow failures that cause mysterious bot behavior.
Message Capacity Management	How to prevent your helpful AI from consuming your entire annual budget in a week.
Agent Quarantine Tools	PowerShell commands to quickly disable runaway agents before they bankrupt your IT department.
Generative Orchestration Debugging	When your AI starts calling random flows for simple questions, this explains why and how to fix it.
Azure AD Integration Troubleshooting	Because authentication that works for you might not work for your users.
Data Loss Prevention Policies	Understanding why your bot suddenly can't access data it could reach yesterday.
Generative Answers Debugging	When your AI is confidently wrong about everything, start here to understand what knowledge sources it's actually using.
Azure AI Search Optimization	Making your knowledge searches fast, accurate, and cost-effective instead of slow, wrong, and expensive.
Teams Integration Troubleshooting	Why your bot works perfectly in Teams but fails spectacularly in web chat.
Web Chat Limitations	Understanding what you can and can't do outside the Microsoft ecosystem.
Power Platform Community Forums	Where other developers share their production disaster stories and occasionally helpful solutions.
Microsoft Copilot Studio Blog	Official updates that might explain why your working bot suddenly broke after Microsoft "improved" something.
GitHub Issues for Power Platform	Community-reported bugs and workarounds that Microsoft hasn't officially acknowledged yet.
Microsoft Support for Power Platform	When everything is broken and you need someone to blame besides yourself.
Microsoft 365 Service Health	Check here first when things stop working mysteriously - sometimes it's actually Microsoft's fault. Access through your Microsoft 365 admin center.

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