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1 | 1 | --- |
2 | 2 | title: Debug canvas apps without Live monitor |
3 | 3 | description: Learn alternative approaches to debug Power Apps canvas apps when Live monitor isn't available, such as in SharePoint forms or custom portal embeddings. |
4 | | -ms.date: 01/20/2026 |
| 4 | +ms.date: 01/15/2026 |
5 | 5 | ms.reviewer: carlosff, v-shaywood |
6 | 6 | ms.custom: sap:Running Canvas App |
| 7 | +search.audienceType: |
| 8 | + - maker |
7 | 9 | --- |
8 | 10 |
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9 | | -<!-- [CUSTOMER INTENT: As a Power Apps maker, I want to debug canvas app issues when I can't use Live monitor, so I can troubleshoot problems in embedded or hosted scenarios.] --> |
10 | | - |
11 | 11 | # Debug canvas apps without Live monitor |
12 | 12 |
|
13 | | -This article describes alternative debugging approaches for Power Apps canvas apps when [Live monitor](/power-apps/maker/monitor-canvasapps) isn't available. Use these techniques for SharePoint integrated forms, custom pages, or custom portal embeddings where you can't open Live monitor alongside the app. |
14 | | - |
15 | 13 | ## Summary |
16 | 14 |
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17 | | -Live monitor is the recommended tool for debugging canvas apps because it shows real-time events and works with the [Trace function](/power-platform/power-fx/reference/function-trace). However, some hosted or embedded scenarios don't support it. This article covers alternatives like Application Insights, Dataverse logging tables, SharePoint list logging, and on-screen diagnostics panels. |
| 15 | +This article describes alternative debugging approaches for Power Apps canvas apps when [Live monitor](/power-apps/maker/monitor-canvasapps) isn't available. Use these techniques for SharePoint integrated forms, custom pages, or custom portal embeddings where you can't open Live monitor alongside the app. |
| 16 | + |
| 17 | +Live monitor is the recommended tool for debugging canvas apps because it displays real-time events and works with the [Trace function](/power-platform/power-fx/reference/function-trace). However, some hosted or embedded scenarios don't support it. This article covers alternatives such as Application Insights, Dataverse logging tables, SharePoint list logging, and on-screen diagnostics panels. |
18 | 18 |
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19 | | -For scenarios where Live monitor is available, see [Debug canvas apps with Live monitor and Trace](monitor-debugging-canvas-apps.md). |
| 19 | +> [!NOTE] |
| 20 | +> For scenarios where Live monitor is available, see [Debug canvas apps with Live monitor and Trace](monitor-debugging-canvas-apps.md). |
20 | 21 |
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21 | 22 | ## Alternative debugging approaches |
22 | 23 |
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23 | 24 | When Live monitor isn't available, choose an alternative based on your environment and needs: |
24 | 25 |
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25 | | -| Alternative | Best for | Notes | |
26 | | -| ----------- | -------- | ----- | |
27 | | -| [Application Insights](#application-insights-integration) | Centralized telemetry and performance monitoring | Requires Azure setup. Emits traces and metrics outside Power Apps. | |
28 | | -| [Dataverse logging table](#write-debug-records-to-dataverse) | Ad-hoc diagnostics and audit trails | Create a custom table. Use guarded logic to write records when debugging. | |
29 | | -| [SharePoint list logging](#write-debug-records-to-sharepoint) | Lightweight environments without Dataverse | Use `Collect` or `Patch` to a list. Prune entries to control size. | |
30 | | -| [On-screen diagnostics panel](#create-an-on-screen-diagnostics-panel) | Immediate feedback during testing | Only for secure audiences. Remove before broad rollout. | |
| 26 | +| Alternative | Best for | Notes | |
| 27 | +| --------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
| 28 | +| [Application Insights](#application-insights-integration) | Centralized telemetry and performance monitoring | Requires Azure setup. Emits traces and metrics outside Power Apps. | |
| 29 | +| [Dataverse logging table](#write-debug-records-to-dataverse) | Ad-hoc diagnostics and audit trails | Create a custom table. Use guarded logic to write records when debugging. | |
| 30 | +| [SharePoint list logging](#write-debug-records-to-sharepoint) | Lightweight environments without Dataverse | Use `Collect` or `Patch` to a list. Prune entries to control size. | |
| 31 | +| [On-screen diagnostics panel](#create-an-on-screen-diagnostics-panel) | Immediate feedback during testing | Only for secure audiences. Remove before broad rollout. | |
31 | 32 |
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32 | 33 | ## Application Insights integration |
33 | 34 |
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@@ -144,14 +145,14 @@ Add a text control to the screen that shows the collected traces. Set its **Visi |
144 | 145 |
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145 | 146 | **Control properties:** |
146 | 147 |
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147 | | -| Property | Value | |
148 | | -| -------- | ----- | |
149 | | -| **Text** | `Concat(debugTraces, $"[{Text(Timestamp, "hh:mm:ss.fff")}] {Data}", Char(10))` | |
150 | | -| **Visible** | `Param("debug") = "true"` | |
151 | | -| **Height** | 200 | |
152 | | -| **Width** | 300 | |
153 | | -| **X** | `Parent.Width - 320` | |
154 | | -| **Y** | 20 | |
| 148 | +| Property | Value | |
| 149 | +| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | |
| 150 | +| **Text** | `Concat(debugTraces, $"[{Text(Timestamp, "hh:mm:ss.fff")}] {Data}", Char(10))` | |
| 151 | +| **Visible** | `Param("debug") = "true"` | |
| 152 | +| **Height** | 200 | |
| 153 | +| **Width** | 300 | |
| 154 | +| **X** | `Parent.Width - 320` | |
| 155 | +| **Y** | 20 | |
155 | 156 |
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156 | 157 | This displays a scrollable list of debug messages that you can copy and analyze outside the app. |
157 | 158 |
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