How to Troubleshoot The Five Most Common Zapier Bugs

In this post, you'll learn how to tackle the five most common Zapier bugs that can be frustrating to deal with. By following these tips, you'll troubleshoot and resolve these issues effectively. Let's dive in!

Bug #1: Zap Isn't Triggering

Your Zap may not be properly triggering if it's not showing up as a "Successful" run.

1. Ensure your Zap is turned on:

2. If it's on, revisit the editor, retest both the trigger and action steps of the Zap and ensure you're using the correct accounts for the apps involved:

3. If necessary, try disconnecting and reconnecting the apps, and consult Zapier recommendations for additional help.

Bug #2: Zap Paused and Not Running

Sometimes, you might create a Zap, turn it on, and close your browser, thinking it's set up. However, there are three main reasons why your Zap may not run:

1. It encountered an error too many times.

2. You're using a professional feature not included in your current plan.

3. You ran out of tasks for the month.

To fix these issues, check your Zap's task history for errors and consider upgrading your plan or waiting for the next billing period.

Bug #3: Incorrect Zap Dates or Times

Dealing with different time formats and time zones can be confusing. If incorrect dates or times are displayed, follow these steps:

1. Ensure your profile settings have the correct time zone.

2. If needed, use the Formatter step to fix date formats.

3. Refer to this guide for more information on date formats.

Bug #4: Zap Not Sending Data

When building Zaps involving media files, you may encounter a situation where the action isn't completed even when the Zap runs perfectly. To fix this:

1. Revisit the Zap editor and make sure the fields are mapped correctly.

2. Check your Zap history to see if it's pulling empty values.

3. If you find empty values, refer to this resource to help fix the issue.

Bug #5: Zap Stuck in a Loop

A "loop" occurs when one of your Zaps runs repeatedly from a single trigger event, consuming all your tasks. This usually happens when two Zaps trigger each other or when the trigger and action of a Zap are the same.

Let’s use an example:

Let’s say I wanted to send myself an email whenever a new email from a subscriber landed in my inbox. But, in this scenario I forgot to include a filter so that it only Triggers on emails that contain a specific keyword.

So, what ends up happening:

1. Trigger (New Email in Gmail): Every time I receive a new email, the automation triggers.

2. Action (Send Email in Gmail): The Zap performs an action based on the trigger, which is to send an email in Gmail.

3. Trigger Same Zap: The action of sending an email in Gmail triggers the same Zap again, creating a loop. In a few minutes I’ll dozens of the same email in my inbox. 🤯 

How to prevent an infinite loop

Preventing an infinite loop in your Zaps involves careful planning and setting up of your automation workflows. Here are some strategies:

1. Avoid Self-Triggering Actions: Ensure that the action of a Zap does not trigger the same Zap. For example, if you have a Zap that triggers on a new email and sends an email as an action, make sure it doesn't send the email to the same inbox that triggers the Zap.

2. Use Filters: Zapier provides filters that you can use to stop a Zap from continuing if certain conditions are met. For example, you could set up a filter to only continue if the email received is from a certain address.

3. Use Paths: Zapier's Paths feature allows you to create conditional workflows. You can use Paths to direct your Zap to different actions based on the data it receives.

4. Limit the Number of Runs: If possible, limit the number of times a Zap can run within a certain time period.

Signs that your Zap might be stuck in an infinite loop include:

1. Excessive Task Usage: If you notice that your Zap is using up tasks at a much faster rate than expected, it might be stuck in a loop.

2. Repeated Actions: If you see the same action being performed over and over again, especially in a short period of time, it's a sign of a loop.

3. Unexpected Emails or Notifications: If you're receiving a large number of unexpected emails or notifications from your Zap, it might be because it's stuck in a loop.

4. High API Usage: If you're getting warnings from an app about high API usage, it could be due to a Zap loop.

Wrapping up:

1. Zap Isn't Triggering: If a Zap isn't triggering properly, you should ensure it's on, retest its steps, check the associated accounts, and possibly disconnect and reconnect the apps.

2. Zap Paused and Not Running: Zaps may stop running due to errors, the use of professional features not included in your plan, or running out of tasks for the month. To resolve this, check your Zap's task history and consider upgrading your plan.

3. Incorrect Zap Dates or Times: If you encounter incorrect Zap dates or times, adjust your profile settings, use the Formatter step, and consult the guide for date formats.

4. Zap Not Sending Data: If a Zap isn't sending data, ensure the fields are mapped correctly, check for empty values in your Zap history, and consult resources if necessary.

5. Zap Stuck in a Loop: A loop can occur when a Zap triggers itself repeatedly. This can be prevented by careful workflow planning, avoiding self-triggering actions, using filters and paths, and limiting the number of runs.