SharePoint workflow errors are signs that the workflow could not finish a step as expected. The cause is usually one of four things: a connection or authentication problem, a registration or reachability problem between SharePoint and Workflow Manager, a timeout, or a legacy workflow platform issue. Start by matching the error text to the category that best fits the failure.
If the error happens when a workflow starts, check the connection and registration first. If it happens during a step, check whether the step is taking too long. If the workflow is a SharePoint 2010 workflow in a tenant, the issue may be retirement rather than a repairable defect.
What SharePoint workflow errors mean
SharePoint 2010 workflows have been retired for new tenants and removed from existing tenants. If you are still using them, the supported next step is to migrate to Power Automate or another supported solution.
Likely causes
Most workflow failures fit a small set of causes. The same symptom can sometimes come from different issues, so check the platform and the error text before you change anything.
- Authentication or trust failure. SharePoint and Workflow Manager may not be able to authenticate the request between them.
- Workflow Manager reachability or registration problem. SharePoint may not be able to reach the Workflow Manager host, or the service may not be registered correctly.
- Timeout or throttling problem. The workflow action may run longer than the configured limit.
- Revision mismatch or retirement issue. The workflow version may no longer match the service state, or the workflow platform may no longer be supported in the tenant.
📊 SharePoint 2010 workflows have been retired for new tenants since August 1, 2020. Source: Microsoft.
Workflow error matrix
Use this matrix to separate the symptom from the fix. The repair path is different for on-premises and SharePoint Online, and some settings can be changed only in on-premises installations.
| Symptom | Most likely root cause | Verification step | Exact next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authentication failed | SharePoint and Workflow Manager may not be authenticating correctly, or the trust between them may be broken. | Check whether SharePoint can reach the Workflow Manager website and whether the authentication configuration on the Workflow Manager host is correct. | On-premises only: verify the Workflow Manager site authentication settings and re-register the service if needed. In SharePoint Online, move to a supported solution if the workflow path is not supported. |
| Workflow failed to start | The workflow may not be able to bind to the site, list, or runtime service. | Check the workflow association, site context, and permissions for the account that starts the workflow. | On-premises only: confirm the Workflow Manager service registration and test the workflow again. In SharePoint Online, review whether the workflow is a retired or unsupported workflow type. |
| Throttling value missing | The action may be hitting the configured timeout limit. | Check whether the action runs longer than the default timeout period. | On-premises only: change the timeout value if needed. In SharePoint Online, redesign the workflow so the long-running work is handled elsewhere. |
| Revision mismatch | The workflow definition may no longer match the workflow service state after a registration or service change. | Review the workflow and service state after any registration changes. | Validate the workflow service registration again and rerun the workflow. If the workflow is a legacy tenant workflow, consider migration. |
| Timeout errors | The workflow action exceeded the default timeout period of 30 seconds. | Check whether the long-running step is an HTTP call, approval wait, loop, lookup, or external system call. | On-premises only: change the timeout value. SharePoint Online does not allow that change. |
| Connection failures | Workflow Manager may not be reachable from the SharePoint farm. | From each SharePoint web front end, confirm that the Workflow Manager website is reachable over the expected URL and port. | On-premises only: correct the Workflow Manager authentication settings and re-register the workflow service. In SharePoint Online, use supported modern automation instead. |
Authentication and connection failures
When a workflow fails with an authentication error, the cause is usually a trust or registration issue rather than the workflow logic itself. On-premises, the first checks are whether SharePoint can reach the Workflow Manager website and whether the Workflow Manager site is configured correctly for authentication.
- From each SharePoint web front end, confirm the Workflow Manager website is reachable over the expected URL and port.
- On the Workflow Manager host, open IIS Manager and check the site’s Authentication feature.
- Verify Windows Authentication is enabled for the Workflow Manager IIS site.
- On the SharePoint server, run the re-registration command with the correct parameters: Register-SPWorkflowService -SPSite <site URL> -WorkflowHostUri <host URI> -AllowOAuthHttp -scopename <scope> -Force.
- Run iisreset after re-registration, then retry the same workflow.
If an approval workflow fails at start after a service change, check the host endpoint first. Then verify authentication on the Workflow Manager site, re-register the service if required, and test the same workflow again.
Why a workflow fails to start
A start failure usually means the workflow cannot connect to the correct site, list, user context, or workflow service. That is different from a step that fails later during execution. If you are working with a legacy tenant workflow, also check whether the workflow type is still supported.
- Open the workflow association on the list or library and confirm the trigger is attached to the correct content type, list, or item event.
- Check the account running the start action and verify it has the required permissions on the target list and site.
- On-premises only, confirm the Workflow Manager service proxy exists and points to the correct host URI.
- If the workflow was built in SharePoint Designer, test the same start condition again after the registration check.
- If the workflow is a SharePoint 2010 workflow in a tenant, move to Power Automate or another supported solution.
A common mistake is to change the workflow logic before checking the association. If the start condition points to the wrong list, the workflow can appear broken even when the service is fine.
Timeout and throttling errors
Timeout errors usually mean one action ran too long. You can change that timeout in on-premises installations, but you can't change it in SharePoint Online installations. If the workflow is running in SharePoint Online, the usual fix is to redesign the workflow so the long-running work does not happen inside the workflow action. (Microsoft Learn)
- Identify the slow step: HTTP call, approval wait, loop, lookup, or external system call.
- On-premises only, change the workflow timeout value to fit the action.
- In SharePoint Online, remove the long-running action from the workflow and move that work to Power Automate or another supported service.
- Check the workflow run again and compare the point where it fails.
- If the same step always fails, reduce the work done inside that step or split the process into smaller parts.
On-premises, increasing the timeout may help. In SharePoint Online, the better fix is to move the long-running work out of the workflow.
Revision mismatch and legacy workflow issues
A revision mismatch after a registration change means the workflow definition may no longer match the workflow service state. That can happen after service updates or re-registration. For legacy workflows in a tenant, the issue may instead be that the workflow platform is no longer supported.
- Check the workflow and service state after the registration change.
- Confirm Workflow Manager was updated or re-registered with the intended host URI and scope.
- Run Register-SPWorkflowService again if the host URI or scope is wrong, then run iisreset.
- Retry the same workflow instance and compare the error text before and after the change.
- If the workflow is SharePoint 2010-based, stop investing in repairs and plan the migration path now.
SharePoint 2010 workflows were retired for new tenants on August 1, 2020 and removed from existing tenants on November 1, 2020. Microsoft recommends migrating legacy workflows to Power Automate or other supported solutions. That is the correct path when the workflow platform itself is no longer available.
Still not working?
If the error changes but never clears, move to the next validation rather than repeating the same fix. On-premises, that means checking the result after Register-SPWorkflowService and iisreset, then comparing the old and new error text. In SharePoint Online, the better next step is usually migration when the workflow depends on behavior that cannot be changed.
- Rerun the same workflow item after each change and record the exact error text.
- Compare whether the failure moved from authentication to revision mismatch, or from start failure to timeout.
- If the farm is on-premises and the connection still breaks, validate the Workflow Manager host again from each web front end.
- If the workflow is retired, replace it with Power Automate instead of making more platform changes.
- If the workflow is business-critical and still fails after registration, permission, and timeout checks, open a support case with the exact logs and error text.
Prevention: keep legacy workflow use to the smallest necessary surface area. For new automation, prefer supported modern workflows, and treat SharePoint 2013 or SharePoint 2010 workflow fixes as temporary unless the platform is still supported in that environment.
Frequently asked questions
How do I fix sharepoint workflow errors?
Start with the symptom, not the workflow designer. If it is an authentication failure, check Workflow Manager reachability and IIS Windows Authentication on-premises. If it is a timeout, adjust the on-premises timeout or redesign the step. If it is a retired SharePoint 2010 workflow, move to Power Automate.
How do I check a workflow error in sharepoint?
On-premises, check ULS logs first because they can help you see authentication failures, throttling messages, and revision mismatches. In SharePoint Online, check the workflow run status in the site and use the error text to decide whether it is a design issue, a retirement issue, or a service limitation that needs migration.
Why does my sharepoint workflow fail to start?
A start failure usually points to association, permissions, or service registration. Verify the workflow is attached to the right list or library, confirm the run account has access, and on-premises confirm Workflow Manager registration with Register-SPWorkflowService. If the workflow is SharePoint 2010-based in a tenant, migrate it.
How do I register sharepoint workflow service again?
Use the on-premises PowerShell cmdlet: Register-SPWorkflowService -SPSite <site URL> -WorkflowHostUri <host URI> -AllowOAuthHttp -scopename <scope> -Force. Then run iisreset and test the same workflow again. That command does not apply to SharePoint Online.
Should I disable sharepoint 2013 workflows?
On modern tenants, yes, if your use case can move to a supported replacement. SharePoint 2013 workflows are legacy and should be assessed for retirement or migration. If the workflow is still on-premises and mission-critical, confirm whether the failure is a platform issue or a one-off workflow design problem before turning it off.
How do I know if sharepoint 2010 workflows are retired?
If you are in a tenant, the retirement timeline is already defined: retired for new tenants on August 1, 2020 and removed from existing tenants on November 1, 2020. The practical next step is migration to Power Automate or another supported solution, not more repair attempts.