How to Create a Power Platform Environment: Step-by-Step

Creating a new Power Platform environment is the first crucial step to building applications, automating workflows, and managing data. Whether you’re setting up a production environment or a sandbox for development and testing, this guide will walk you through the entire process with easy-to-follow steps.

Step 1: Access Power Platform Admin Center

1. Go to admin.powerplatform.microsoft.com.
2. Sign in with your Global Administrator or Power Platform Administrator credentials.

Step 2: Navigate to Environments

Once logged in, you’ll land on the Power Platform Admin Center dashboard. From here, you’ll navigate to the Environments section where you can create and manage environments.

1. In the left-hand menu, click on Environments.
2. This will display a list of all existing environments. If you’re creating your first environment, this section will be blank.

Step 3: Create a New Environment

Now, it’s time to set up your new environment.

1. At the top of the page, click on the + New button.
2. A new panel will open for creating your environment.

Step 4: Fill in the Environment Details

Here, you’ll specify key details for your environment.

1. Name: Enter a descriptive name for your environment, such as “CourseManagementDev” or “ProductionEnvironment.”
2. Region: Select the geographical region where your environment will be hosted. Choose a region closest to your users for better performance.
3. Type: Choose the type of environment:
   • Production: For live use.
   • Sandbox: For testing and development.
   • Trial: A temporary environment that expires after 30 days.
   • Developer: For individual use in development (available with the Power Apps Developer Plan).

Step 5: Enable Dataverse (Optional)

If you plan on using Dataverse to store data, make sure you enable it during setup.

1. Under the Add Dataverse section, toggle the switch to Yes.
2. Specify the environment URL (usually following the format yourenvname.crm.dynamics.com).

• Screenshot: Show the toggle switch for enabling Dataverse.

Step 6: Create the Environment

Once all the details are in place, it’s time to create the environment.

1. Click Save.
2. The system will take a few moments to set up your environment. You can monitor the progress in the Environments list.

• Screenshot: Capture the “Save” button and a screen showing the environment creation progress.

When you select the new environment, Student Information System, you’ll notice highlighted buttons appearing, allowing you to perform relevant actions for the newly created environment.

You successfully created Power Platform Environment!

Why You Need a Power Platform Environment

A Power Platform environment serves as a container that stores your apps, flows, data, and configurations. It’s crucial for keeping your development, testing, and production activities separate. With a dedicated environment, you can control security, manage resources, and integrate with other services like Dataverse, Power Apps, Power Automate, and SharePoint.