One of the most common UiPath issues is the “UI Element Not Found” error. This usually happens when the robot cannot identify a button, input field, or application window.
Why This Error Happens
UiPath uses selectors to identify UI elements. Sometimes selectors contain dynamic values such as random IDs, transaction numbers, or changing window titles.
For example:
<webctrl id='submit_48291' tag='BUTTON' aaname='Submit' />
After the page refreshes, the ID may change:
<webctrl id='submit_73562' tag='BUTTON' aaname='Submit' />
Because the selector has changed, the robot fails to find the button.
Solution
Remove unstable attributes and use stable properties.
Instead of:
<webctrl id='submit_48291' tag='BUTTON' aaname='Submit' />
Use:
<webctrl tag='BUTTON' aaname='Submit' />
You can also use:
- Wildcards for partially changing values
- Anchors when multiple similar elements exist
- Dynamic selectors using variables
- Check App State instead of fixed delays
- Retry logic for temporary application issues
Best Practice
Always test selectors after refreshing the application several times. Make sure the selector identifies only one correct element.
Also, validate the result after clicking. For example, after clicking Submit, check whether a success message appears.
Conclusion
The “UI Element Not Found” error is usually caused by unstable selectors or application-loading delays. A reliable UiPath solution should use stable attributes, proper anchors, application-state checks, and controlled retries.
A good automation should not only perform the action but also handle unexpected changes without failing.