Summary
Table of Contents
- Visio desktop’s built-in export to Power Automate (BPMN export) is being retired; the Export button/pane and Show Flow Markup will be removed from the Visio UI.
- Affected users: anyone who uses Visio desktop to export BPMN diagrams as Power Automate cloud flows; existing flows exported from Visio will continue to run and Visio diagrams/templates remain available.
- Admins should identify and inform impacted users, have them complete any in-progress exports before the admin deadline, and update internal guidance to direct users to make.powerautomate.com for new flows.
- New automation should be created directly in the Power Automate designer (make.powerautomate.com) which offers broader connector/action support and AI-assisted flow creation.
Primary Service: Visio
Admin Impact: Low
User Impact: High
Release Start: 30 Jun 2026
Release End: 31 Jul 2026
Services: M365 Apps, Power Automate, Power Platform, Visio
Category: Plan for change
Tags: Retirement, User Adoption
History
5/26/2026 Item Added to Message Center
Microsoft Message
What and Why
Microsoft is retiring the ability to export Power Automate cloud flows directly from Visio Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) diagrams. This change aligns workflow automation with the full Power Automate experience, which provides a modern, AI-assisted flow designer with broader connector and action support. Usage of the Visio export integration is very low, and consolidating automation in Power Automate enables a more capable and supported experience.
Rollout Schedule
Retirement begins in late June 2026 and completes by late July 2026.
Impact on Your Organization
Who is affected: Users who use Visio desktop to export BPMN diagrams as Power Automate flows
Platforms/Services:
- Visio desktop
- Power Automate
What will happen:
- The Export button and Export pane in Visio used to map BPMN shapes to Power Automate triggers and actions will be removed.
- The Show Flow Markup button will be removed from the Visio ribbon.
- These options will no longer appear in Visio search results.
- Users on updated builds will no longer see or access these features in the UI.
- Existing Power Automate flows previously exported from Visio will continue to run with no changes.
- Existing Visio diagrams and BPMN templates remain available and unaffected.
- Users on older Microsoft 365 Apps builds may continue to see the feature until they update; however, it will no longer be supported or maintained.
Action Required / Recommendations
- Inform users who rely on the Visio-to-Power Automate export workflow about this upcoming change. Users should complete any in-progress exports before June 30, 2026.
- No action is needed for flows that have already been exported to Power Automate. They will continue to work.
- Users who need to create new automation flows can do so directly at make.powerautomate.com. Power Automate provides a full-featured flow designer with templates, AI-assisted flow creation, and 1,000+ connectors.
Learn more:
- Retirement details
- Power Automate documentation
- Create a cloud flow in Power Automate
Compliance considerations
The change removes an existing Visio feature but does not alter data storage, processing, or compliance controls.