The answer is that the users lack write permissions on the SharePoint list. This is the most likely cause because a canvas app access denied error tied to SharePoint permissions occurs when the app itself functions correctly—it loads and displays data—but the underlying SharePoint list enforces its own security model. Even if the app is shared with users, the SharePoint list requires Contribute or Edit permissions to create new items; without them, the submission action fails with a generic error. On the Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals PL-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of data source permissions versus app permissions—a common trap is assuming sharing the app alone grants full access. Remember that the canvas app is just a front-end; the SharePoint list is the gatekeeper for writes. Memory tip: "App shares the door, but SharePoint holds the key."
PL-900 Demonstrate the capabilities of Power Apps Practice Question
This PL-900 practice question tests your understanding of demonstrate the capabilities of power apps. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company has a canvas app that uses a SharePoint list as its data source. The app works fine for most users but a few users report that they cannot submit new items. They receive a generic 'Access denied' error. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The users lack write permissions on the SharePoint list.
The 'Access denied' error when submitting new items in a canvas app connected to a SharePoint list indicates that the user lacks write permissions on the underlying data source. Even though the app is shared with the user, the SharePoint list itself enforces its own permission model. Without Contribute or Edit permissions on the list, the user cannot create new items, resulting in the generic access denied error.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The connection reference is not shared with the users.
Why it's wrong here
Connection references are for solution components, not direct data sources.
✗
The SharePoint list has exceeded its item limit.
Why it's wrong here
That would cause a different error, not 'Access denied'.
✓
The users lack write permissions on the SharePoint list.
Why this is correct
Power Apps uses the user's credentials to access SharePoint; they need write permission on the list.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The app is shared with 'Can edit' permission but not 'Can view'.
Why it's wrong here
Sharing permission only affects app access, not data source permissions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse app-level sharing permissions (Can view/Can edit) with data source permissions, assuming that sharing the app with 'Can edit' automatically grants write access to the underlying SharePoint list.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SharePoint list permissions are independent of Power Apps app permissions. When a canvas app uses a SharePoint list as a data source, the app runs under the context of the signed-in user, and Power Apps uses the SharePoint REST API to perform CRUD operations. The 'Access denied' error is returned by SharePoint's permission system when the user's token lacks the necessary write claims (e.g., SP.Write permission) for the list. This is a common issue when the app is shared broadly but the underlying SharePoint list has unique permissions or is in a site with restricted access.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Demonstrate the capabilities of Power Apps — This question tests Demonstrate the capabilities of Power Apps — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The users lack write permissions on the SharePoint list. — The 'Access denied' error when submitting new items in a canvas app connected to a SharePoint list indicates that the user lacks write permissions on the underlying data source. Even though the app is shared with the user, the SharePoint list itself enforces its own permission model. Without Contribute or Edit permissions on the list, the user cannot create new items, resulting in the generic access denied error.
What should I do if I get this PL-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A developer is troubleshooting a canvas app that uses a SharePoint list as a data source. The app works for some users but fails for others with the error 'Access denied.' All users have read access to the SharePoint list. What could be the issue?
hard
✓ A.The users do not have permissions to the SharePoint list
B.The SharePoint list is set to private
C.The users do not have Power Apps licenses
D.The app is in a different environment than the users
Why A: Option D is correct because Power Apps uses the user's own permissions to access SharePoint. Even if the app is shared, the underlying data permissions must be correct. Option A is wrong because licenses are not the issue here. Option B is wrong because the user environment is the same for all. Option C is wrong because the list is not set to private if users have read access.
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This PL-900 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PL-900 exam.
Question Discussion
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