How To Determine If Your Canvas App Is In Studio Or Play Mode

If you're a canvas app developer, you might be wondering how to differentiate between play mode and studio mode in PowerApps. While there's no out-of-the-box function to call, the good news is that there is a small work-around that can help you determine which mode you're in. In order to accomplish this, you'll need to employ the following code:

/*********************************
 * Determine Studio or Play mode *
 *********************************/
SaveData([true], "IsMobileApp"); // SaveData only works in the Power Apps App, not the web player
Clear(IsMobileApp);
LoadData(IsMobileApp, "IsMobileApp", true);
// TenantId is required for the web player SaveData only works in the Power Apps App, 
// not the web player so if both are blank/empty then it's studio mode
Set(AppMode, If(IsBlank(Param("tenantId")) && IsEmpty(IsMobileApp), "Studio", "Play"));

Since TenantId is included in the URL for the play web page, and you cannot open the studio from the PowerApps Mobile App, the function can determine if you are in Play or Studio mode. The code enables you to automatically change how the app behaves depending on which mode it is in. This comes in handy when debugging or creating hidden sections of the app.

So if you're looking for a way to streamline your PowerApps development process, this simple trick might be just what you need!