Use Power Platform connectors as tools

Connectors from Microsoft Power Platform act as proxies or "wrappers" around APIs. They enable Copilot Studio, Power Automate, Power Apps, and Azure Logic Apps to communicate with other apps and services. By using connectors, you can connect your accounts and use prebuilt tools and triggers to build your apps and workflows.

By using connectors, you can access various services (both within the Microsoft ecosystem and outside it) to perform a wide array of tasks automatically.

Many connectors are available. Connectors include connections between and to Microsoft services like Office 365, SharePoint, and Dynamics 365, as well as connections to non-Microsoft services like Twitter, Google services, Salesforce, and more. Connectors are categorized as:

• Prebuilt connectors, which are built-in connections to popular services available to use in Copilot Studio agents. These connectors include:

  • Standard connectors, such as SharePoint, which are included with all Copilot Studio plans.
  • Premium connectors, which are available in select Copilot Studio plans.

• Custom connectors, which you use to connect to any publicly available API for services not covered by existing connectors.

Integration with Copilot Studio

Connectors are useful tools that greatly extend the functionality of Copilot Studio agents. By using connectors, you can connect to various external services and applications to perform a wide range of tasks. By using these connectors, you can create more dynamic, responsive, and useful agents that are tailored to specific business needs and processes.

You can call connectors as tools in your agent, at the agent level, or in a topic.

Note

For more information on adding connectors as a knowledge source, see Add Power Platform connectors as knowledge (preview).

Add tools from a prebuilt connector to your agent

You can select and add tools from prebuilt connectors directly to your agent. Connector tools represent specific actions or operations you want your agent to perform by using that connector.

Add a tool from a prebuilt connector

1. Select Agents and select the agent you want to add a connector to.

2. Go to the Tools page of your agent and select Add a tool.

3. Select Connector. The different services with connectors available are displayed.

4. Select the service you want to connect to, or search for the service by name in the search box. You see a list of tools available for the service connector.

5. Select the tool you want to add. The Add tool pane opens.

6. If the connection doesn't already exist, select Create new connection. The details of setting up the connection depend on the connector you selected.

7. Select Submit or Create as applicable when you're done.

8. Select Add and configure. The configuration page for the new tool opens, showing the new tool and its details.

   By default, the connection uses user credentials. For more information about the supported authentication modes, see Configure user authentication for tools. To change this behavior, see the following section.

Add a tool from a prebuilt connector in a topic

1. Select Agents and select the agent you want to add a connector to.

2. Go to the Topics page and select the topic you want to add a connector to.

3. Select Add node (+) on the authoring canvas.

4. In the node selection window, select Add a tool > Connector, and search for the connector tool you want to add.

5. Set up connection details as needed for the connector.

6. Select Submit.

   By default, the connection uses user credentials. For more information about the supported authentication modes, see Configure user authentication for tools. To change this behavior, see Create a custom connector to add to an agent.

Create a custom connector to add to an agent

1. Select Agents and select the agent you want to add a connector to.

2. Go to the Tools page and select Add a tool.

3. Select New tool > Custom connector. You're taken to the Power Apps portal under the Custom connectors section.

4. Select New custom connector and select the method you want to use to create the connector.

Use connectors with maker-provided credentials

Connectors need a valid set of credentials. By default, connectors ask users (users of your agent) to enter their credentials for the associated service when they use the tool. To have your agent use the maker's credentials, follow these steps:

1. Configure your agent to use an authenticated channel.
2. Add a connector tool to your agent, and configure it.
3. Go to the connector tool Overview page.
4. Under Details > Additional details > Credentials to use, select Maker-provided credentials.
5. Publish and test the experience in the Test your agent pane, or in the desired channel.

Share connection

To share your connection with others:

1. Go to make.powerapps.com.
2. Select Connections in the left navigation bar.
3. Select the connection and select Share.
4. In the Share dialog, search for the desired user and select the user.
5. Under Permission, next to the user, select Can use + share.

Limitations

• Single sign-on (SSO) isn't supported for connectors when an agent uses custom Active Directory authentication and the agent is deployed to Microsoft Teams. In this configuration, connectors can't use SSO, and users must authenticate to each connector manually. To enable your users to connect successfully, make sure the necessary connections are set up in Copilot Studio. For guidance on setting up connections, see Configure and manage connections.