Zap stopped working? I find out why, then fix it.

I'm Garry McEwen, a business process and automation expert in Bury.

Has an enquiry gone missing from your spreadsheet, or an email not gone out? A Zap may have stopped working.

Zapier is an online service that moves information between your apps, so nobody types it twice. A Zap is one of those links, from one app to another.

When a Zap stops, the information stops too. I find out what broke, tell you the price, and fix it.

I'm a Zapier Silver Solution Partner.

It depends on how complex the Zap is. I look at the Zap first, then tell you the price before any work starts.

Not triggering, keeps turning off, or stopped working?

Common causes are below. They are normal upkeep, not something you did wrong.

An app connection has expired. Zapier stays connected to your apps so it can move information between them. If a password changes, or an app asks you to log in again, the connection can expire. You can see this on Zapier's App Connections page. (Zapier: Manage your app connections)

A field or sheet has changed. A field is one box of information, such as "Email" or "Phone". If someone renames, adds or moves a column in a Google Sheet, or sorts the sheet, the Zap may not find the information it expects. (Zapier: Google Sheets Zap not triggering)

A filter needs changing. A filter is a rule that tells a Zap to carry on or stop, for example "only new enquiries". If the rule doesn't match how you work now, the Zap stops when it should carry on.

Runs are on hold. A run is one time the Zap works through its steps. Zapier can hold runs, for example when an app is disconnected, when your account reaches its task limit, or after a plan change. Each Zapier plan has a monthly number of tasks; a task is counted each time an action step runs. (Zapier: Zap limits; Zapier: How to troubleshoot held Zap or step runs)

A step keeps returning errors. An error means a step did not finish, for example because an app refused the information. If a Zap errors too often, Zapier may turn it off. (Zapier: Zap is not running)

Zap stopped working on any of these systems?

Yes, I can look at it. If a Zap that uses one of these apps is not triggering or shows an error, I find out why:

• Google Workspace: Google Sheets, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Slides and Google Forms
• Calendly
• Jira
• Confluence
• Trello
• Slack
• AI steps that use ChatGPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic), Gemini (Google AI Studio) or Grok (xAI). An AI step is a Zap step that uses a large language model, or LLM, to write or sort text.
• Smartsheet
• Dropbox
• OneDrive
• Brevo
• Buffer
• Stripe
• Strava

Not every Zap can be fixed. I look at it first and tell you what I can do, and the price, before any work starts.

App names, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Grok, are trademarks of their owners, such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and xAI. They are used here only to say which apps I work with. I don't work for, and am not endorsed by, any of these companies.

What a fix includes

• I read your Zap history. Zap history is Zapier's record of each run, and what happened at each step.
• I find the step that failed and tell you why, in plain words.
• I tell you the price before I fix anything.
• I fix the cause, for example I help you reconnect the app, correct the field or change the filter.
• I test the Zap with made-up details, not your customers' details.
• Where Zapier and your plan allow it, I replay the runs that failed or were held. Replay means Zapier runs them again with the same information. (Zapier: How to troubleshoot errors in Zap workflows; Zapier: Replay Zap runs)
• I write down what I changed, and hand it back to you.

How it works

1. Message me and tell me which Zap has stopped working.
2. We sign a data agreement (DPA) first. Then you show me the Zap, in one of three ways (see below).
3. I look at Zap history and tell you what went wrong and the price.
4. You say yes. I fix it and test it.
5. I show you what I changed. Then I remove my access.

See how it works

Giving me access

Never send me a password by email or message. I won't ask for one.

Before you show me your Zap, we sign a short data agreement (a DPA, or data processing agreement). It sets out how I handle any personal details I see. This comes first, whichever way you show me the Zap.

There are three ways to show me your Zap. We start with the first, and only move on if we need to.

1. Send me a shared copy of the Zap. Zapier lets you turn a Zap into a guided template and share it with a link. Zapier says the people you share it with "will not use your app connections. They will have to connect their own." (Zapier: Create a guided template) The copy can still show details typed into the Zap's steps, so take out any customer details before you share it.

2. A screen share. If a copy isn't enough, we use a screen share where you stay in control and do the clicking. I tell you where to look.

3. Invite me to your account. Only if the first two aren't enough, and only on Zapier's Team or Enterprise plans: invite me as a Member with the least access needed, never as owner. (Zapier: Invite and manage users)

If an app connection must be made again, you log in to that app yourself, and I show you where to click.

Your Zaps stay in your own Zapier account. When the fix is done, any access you gave me is removed.

How long a fix takes

It depends on how complex the Zap is. When I quote the price, I also give you a target date. I aim to finish by then, and I'll tell you straight away if that changes.

Where I work

I'm based in Bury. I do the work remotely, so I can fix Zaps for businesses anywhere in the UK.

Questions

Why has my Zap stopped working?

The most common causes are an expired app connection, a changed field or sheet, a filter that needs changing, runs on hold, or a step that keeps returning errors. Zap history shows which step failed.

My Zap keeps turning off. Why?

Zapier may turn a Zap off if it errors too often, or if a feature it uses is no longer on your plan. Zap history shows the errors.

My Zap shows no errors, but nothing happens. Why?

Often a run is on hold, a required field is empty, or an app needs you to log in again.

What does "held" mean?

Held means the run is waiting for something to be fixed, such as an app connection. Zapier keeps the data for a time, so the run can often be replayed.

My Google Sheet Zap stopped. Did I break it?

Probably not on purpose. Sorting the sheet, or renaming, adding or moving a column, can stop it. It's normal upkeep.

My Gmail Zap stopped triggering. What can I do?

Check the Gmail connection first. If it has expired, it may need reconnecting. You log in to Gmail yourself, and I show you where to click.

My Stripe Zap doesn't trigger after a payment. Why?

One cause can be test mode. Stripe has a test mode for trying things out with pretend payments. Zapier uses a separate Stripe connection for test mode and for live mode, so a Zap set up on the test connection won't see real payments. I check which connection your Zap uses.

Can you fix a Zap someone else built?

Yes. I look at Zap history first, then give you a price before I fix it.

Do I need to send you my Zapier password?

No. Never send a password by email or message. First we sign a data agreement (DPA). Then usually you send me a shared copy of the Zap. If that isn't enough, we use a screen share where you do the clicking.

How long does a fix take?

It depends on how complex the Zap is. I give you a target date with the price, and I aim to finish by then.

Will I lose the information from runs that failed?

Held runs keep their data, so they can often be replayed. Some replays depend on your Zapier plan. I'll tell you which runs can be replayed.

How much does a Zap fix cost?

It depends on how complex the Zap is. I look at the Zap first, then tell you the price before any work starts.

Do you work outside Bury?

Yes. I work remotely, for businesses anywhere in the UK.

Do you work for Zapier?

No. I'm a Zapier Silver Solution Partner. I don't work for Zapier, and I'm not its agent or employee. You agree the job and pay me directly.

Related pages

Zapier automation in Bury and Greater Manchester