Power Apps

RSS error

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Posted on by DD-12122229-0

Hi.

I have a Power App where I am wanting to bring in a RSS feed.

The URL of the RSS feed is here: https://www.mi5.gov.uk/UKThreatLevel/UKThreatLevel.xml

When I add this into my Power App I get the following error:

Error.(RSS.FeedListItems failed: {"status" 403, "message": "the underlying rss server forbids incoming requests"

I have tried Googling this error with very little success.

I know the RSS works, as I have a RSS reader on my phone which pulls the feed in just fine.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get this to work?

Many thanks.

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Garima_PowerPlatform 170 on at

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Hi

The error message you're encountering, Error.(RSS.FeedListItems failed: {"status" 403, "message": "the underlying rss server forbids incoming requests"}, typically indicates that the server hosting the RSS feed is blocking incoming requests from PowerApps or other automated services.

Check Feed Permissions: Ensure that the RSS feed is publicly accessible and doesn't have restrictions (e.g., IP whitelisting, specific user agents blocked, or authentication required).

Verify that the feed URL (https://www.mi5.gov.uk/UKThreatLevel/UKThreatLevel.xml) is accessible directly in a browser without any authentication.

Sometimes using a service like Feedly or other RSS-to-API services can help bypass restrictions.

Use HTTP Client Connector

{
"method": "GET",
"url": "https://www.mi5.gov.uk/UKThreatLevel/UKThreatLevel.xml"
}
Add User Agent Header:

{
"method": "GET",
"url": "https://www.mi5.gov.uk/UKThreatLevel/UKThreatLevel.xml",
"headers": {
"User-Agent": "PowerApps/1.0"
}
}
Use Power Automate and RSS Feed:

You can fetch the RSS feed in Power Automate and then pass the parsed data to Power Apps for display.

Please click Does this answer your question if my post helped you solve your issue. This will help others find it more readily. It also closes the item. If the content was useful in other ways, please consider giving it a Like.
DD-12122229-0 10 on at

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Thank you for the reply.

I am very new to all of this, so learning as I am going along.

I can open the URL in a browser, and it lists all the elements within the XML file.

I have attempted to create a Power Automate flow, but getting the same error there "the underlying RSS server forbids incoming requests".

I will have a look at Feedly to see if that works, but will have to rely on any free service, as I very much doubt my organisation would pay for third party software.

Not sure about the HTTP Client Connector... I will have to do some searching on that.

Again, many thanks for the quick reply.

Darren
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Garima_PowerPlatform 170 on at

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It's great that you're exploring and learning as you go along! Let me guide you through a few more steps that might help you get past the restrictions.

Step-by-Step Guide for PowerApps & RSS Feed:

1. Check Browser Access:

Since you can open the RSS feed in a browser, it means the feed itself is accessible, but the issue could be due to restrictions on automated requests, such as those from PowerApps or Power Automate.

2. Power Automate with RSS Feed:

Even though Power Automate may show the same error (the underlying RSS server forbids incoming requests), it’s worth trying again with some slight modifications:

Try these steps:

Create a HTTP Request action in Power Automate:

Method: GET

URL: https://www.mi5.gov.uk/UKThreatLevel/UKThreatLevel.xml

Headers:

User-Agent: PowerApps/1.0

Store the result and check if it retrieves the RSS data.

3. Using Feedly (Free):

Feedly offers a free service where you can pull the RSS feed. If it works through Feedly, you can then consider integrating it into PowerApps by accessing the Feedly API or using the data in Power Automate.

4. Using HTTP Client Connector:

Here’s how to use the HTTP Client Connector:

Go to your PowerApps app.

Add an HTTP request:
ClearCollect(RSSData, JSON(HTTPRequest("GET", "https://www.mi5.gov.uk/UKThreatLevel/UKThreatLevel.xml")));

Ensure the User-Agent header is included like this:

json

{ "method": "GET", "url": "https://www.mi5.gov.uk/UKThreatLevel/UKThreatLevel.xml", "headers": { "User-Agent": "PowerApps/1.0" } }

5. Test with a Different Network:

Sometimes, restrictions are due to network settings or proxies. Try testing from a different network (personal hotspot or home network) if possible.
DD-12122229-0 10 on at

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Sorry for the delayed reply (work commitments!)

I have tried in Feedly, and it pulls in the RSS feed. The API requires you to take out a subscription, which my organisation won't pay for (as the app is for a very small, specialised team).

I tried those steps within Power Automate and got a different error, but that could be something I am doing wrong rather than the flow...

For the life of me I cannot find how to add the HTTP Client Connector in my Power Apps app... either I am missing something, or it isn't available within my environment.

Sorry for coming across as a bit stupid with this - I'm trying to learn as I go along in between my day job, and all this help is really appreciated!
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timl 37,287 Super User 2026 Season 2 on at

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Hi Darren,

I don't think it's possible to use the RSS connector or an HTTP flow action to retrieve the contents of that RSS feed.

When I inspect the request in Postman, I see an interim step that calls code from Cloudflare's Challenge Platform. It appears to call a JS challenge to see if the request comes from a bot. When the request is made from the RSS connector or Power Automate, the response from this is true, which I think is the correct response.

It makes sense that MI5 would add this type of Bot/DDoS protection to the endpoint, as it would be a prime target for terrorist attacks.

When I call the endpoint from flow, I get the 403 forbidden response as expected.

Passing values in request header to attempt to 'pass' the challenge doesn't work.

Therefore, the only workaround I can suggest is to use Feedly, or find some other proxy that can call the endpoint.