Power Apps is one of the most flexible tools in the Power Platform and often one of the first things people dive into. However that flexibility can make it feel overwhelming when you first start.

But it doesn’t have to feel that way, here are a few things to remember when you’re first getting started.

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1️⃣ Embrace the formula bar in the canvas app editor

The formula bar isn’t just for quick If() statements. It controls behaviour, appearance, data, navigation, and pretty much everything else.

Instead of relying only on the property pane, get used to accessing the property dropdown and trying to set it using the formula bar. Want to hide a button? Use the Visible property with a formula. Want to show a dynamic label? Use the Text property.

Learning to “think in formulas” (almost like a blend of Excel and app logic) is one of the biggest steps you’ll take as a new maker.

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2️⃣ Understand galleries deeply — they are more than lists

Galleries aren’t just for showing simple item lists. They’re incredibly powerful, acting like a repeating canvas.

Inside each gallery item, you can place icons, buttons, toggles, rating stars, or even nested galleries.

Many beginners think galleries are static or only for plain data views, but once you realize you can build interactive mini-interfaces inside each item, a whole new world opens up.

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3️⃣ Don’t shy away from model-driven apps

Model-driven apps can seem intimidating if you’re coming from canvas apps — they focus on data structure first and layout second. But they aren’t as complicated as they look.

They allow you to define your data once (using Dataverse) and automatically get views, forms, and navigation based on that data. You also gain built-in responsive design, business rules, and security roles without heavy configuration.

They might look rigid at first, but once you explore them, you’ll see they’re a fast way to build robust, enterprise-ready apps. They also leave a lot of room for growth and automation later when you look at things like business process flows, web resource scripts and more.

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4️⃣ Learn to think in terms of “state” — not just screens

Power Apps apps aren’t made of “pages” in the traditional web sense. Instead, they’re state-driven.

You’ll often use variables (UpdateContext, Set) to control what the user sees, what data is loaded, and how screens behave.

For example, instead of creating ten separate screens for different modes, you can have one screen and show/hide parts of it based on state.

Once you embrace this approach, your apps will become more dynamic and easier to maintain.

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5️⃣ Get comfortable with errors — use them as clues

Power Apps’ error messages can feel vague or cryptic at first. But they almost always hint at what’s wrong:

• “Name isn’t valid” → You might be referencing a variable or control that doesn’t exist in the current scope.
• “Invalid argument type” → You might be using the wrong data type or trying to pass incompatible values.

Instead of fearing errors, use them as clues. Debugging is part of every maker’s journey, and learning to read these messages will save you countless hours later on. A solid tip on this front is every time you find an error and resolve it make a note of what the error was and how you resolved it. That way over time you build up a repository of potential fixes so next time it’s quicker.

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Wrap-up

Power Apps has a low barrier to entry but a surprisingly deep learning curve once you dig in. By focusing on formulas, galleries, state thinking, and exploring model-driven apps, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success.

If you’re just getting started — or you’ve recently solved a tricky challenge — I’d love to hear about it! Drop a comment or reach out anytime.

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💬 Want more Power Apps tips?

Check out my other posts or let me know what you’d like to see next — whether it’s advanced gallery layouts, component tips, or deep dives into formulas.