What Are Solution Layer Dependencies in Power Apps and Why They Matter
If you’ve worked with Power Apps and Dataverse, you’ve probably used solutions to move apps, flows, or tables between environments. But have you ever opened a form and seen strange changes you didn’t expect? That’s probably because of solution layers.
Let’s break this down simply.
What Are Solution Layers?
Think of Power Apps like stacking building blocks. Every time you make a change – whether through a solution or directly in the app – it adds a new layer on top of the existing component.
Each component (like a table, form, or flow) can have:
- A base layer from the original managed solution
- Layers from patches, updates, or other solutions
- A final unmanaged (editable) layer on top
The top layer is what users see. It overrides anything below.
What Are Dependencies?
A dependency is when one thing relies on another.
For example:
- A flow that triggers when a new contact is created depends on the Contact table
- A form that uses a custom control depends on that PCF control
- A Canvas App that connects to a table depends on that table and its fields
Power Platform keeps track of these relationships. It does this to protect your apps and make sure you don’t delete something important by mistake.
Why Do Dependencies Matter?
Here’s why it’s important to understand:
1. You Can’t Delete Things That Are in Use
If a flow depends on a table, you can’t delete that table until you remove the dependency.
2. Migrations Might Fail
If you try to move a solution from Dev to Prod, and it needs something not included, the import may fail.
3. Upgrades Might Not Work
When you install an update to a managed solution, but someone has changed the same form in the environment, the update may not apply correctly.
Visual Example: A Layered Cake
Think of your app as a cake:
- The bottom layer is the original design (from a managed solution).
- The middle layer is updates or patches.
- The top layer is your local changes.
You see the frosting on the top — that’s the current version. But if the top is messy or too heavy, it can crush the layers below.
Real Example
Let’s say:
- Your team builds a Contact form inside a managed solution.
- A developer adds a new field (e.g., “Preferred Language”) in the same form directly from the default solution.
Now the Contact form has:
- Base layer from the managed solution
- Top unmanaged layer with the new field
If the managed solution is updated, it won’t touch the top layer – so you won’t see new updates. It causes confusion.
Best Practices
Here’s how to avoid headaches:
| ✅ Do This | 🚫 Not This |
| Use managed solutions in test & production | Don’t customize directly in production |
| Make changes in unmanaged solutions in dev only | Avoid using the default solution for customizations |
| Use patches for hotfixes | Don’t mix unmanaged changes with managed ones |
| Check solution layers before making changes | Don’t delete components without checking dependencies |
| Use tools like the Solution Layers Viewer | Don’t assume your changes will overwrite everything |
Where Can I See Solution Layers?
Go to any table, form, or view → click on “Advanced Settings” → choose “Solution Layers.”
You’ll see a list of where each change came from.
Conclusion
Solution layers and dependencies are like the blueprint of your Power Apps system. If you don’t manage them well, things can break, especially when moving solutions between environments.
Keep your solutions clean, know what depends on what, and avoid editing directly in production.
It’s not just about being organized — it’s about building apps that last.
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