If you’ve logged into Power Apps recently looking for the classic “Expense Reimbursement” or “Budget Tracking” templates to study their UI or logic, you might have noticed a glaring change: The Template Gallery as we knew it is gone.
As of March 2026, Microsoft has pivoted away from standalone “starter apps” in favor of more robust, enterprise-grade deployment methods. If you are an architect or a developer trying to find these learning resources, here is the new map.
1. The “Create” Screen (The New Sidebar)
Microsoft hasn’t deleted the templates; they’ve simply categorized them under the Create menu.
- Navigate to the Apps tab on the left navigation bar.
- Look for the ‘+ New app’ –> “Start with an app template”
- View “Other app templates” at the end.
Note for Architects: Many of these now require a Dataverse environment. If you are in a “Default” environment without a database, some high-end templates (like Invoice Approval) may not appear.
2. Microsoft AppSource (Managed Solutions)
The more complex finance templates have been moved to Microsoft AppSource. Instead of a simple “one-click” app, these are now delivered as Managed Solutions. This is a superior way to learn because it shows you how to package:
- Canvas Apps
- Model-Driven Apps
- Power Automate Cloud Flows
- Dataverse Tables
3. The “Describe it to Design it” Shift
The biggest reason for the “missing” templates is Copilot. Microsoft’s strategy is now “AI-First.” Instead of a static template, you can now type:
“Create an expense reimbursement app with a gallery for my reports and a form to submit new ones.”
Copilot will generate the schema and the UI dynamically. While this is great for speed, I still recommend looking at the classic templates to understand Responsive Design and Complex Formulas that AI might simplify too much.
4. Why This Matters for ALM
As a Lead Architect, I see this shift as a win for Application Lifecycle Management (ALM). The old templates were often “App-only” and difficult to move between environments. By moving to a Solution-based model in 2026, Microsoft is forcing developers to learn professional deployment patterns from day one.
Pro-Tip for Learning
If you want to see professional UI tricks (like a Loading Shimmer effect or advanced navigation), don’t just look at templates. Check out the Power Apps Samples GitHub or the PCF Gallery.
Happy Coding!
Resources & Links
- Source Code: GitHub - SunilP-PowerApps-Shimmer
- Community: Find this control on PCF Gallery (Submission in progress)
- Documentation: Full Installation Guide
Let’s Connect
How is your organization handling the shift to Managed Environments in 2026? I would love to hear your thoughts in the Power Platform Community or on LinkedIn.
Sunil Kumar Pashikanti
Principal Software Architect & Microsoft Community Super User. With 18+ years in the Microsoft ecosystem, I specialize in bridging the gap between enterprise business needs and advanced technical execution across Power Platform and Azure.