> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.datafold.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Power BI

> Include Power BI entities in Data Explorer and column-level lineage.

> [!NOTE]
>
> This integration is in preview and is enabled per organization. Contact [support@datafold.com](mailto:support@datafold.com) to turn it on.

## Overview

Our Power BI integration can help you visualize column-level lineage dependencies between warehouse tables and Power BI entities using [Data Explorer](https://docs.datafold.com/classic/data-explorer/how-it-works.md). Datafold supports the following Power BI entity types:

* Tables (with Columns)
* Reports (with Fields)
* Dashboards

## Choose your authentication method

Datafold supports two authentication methods for Power BI. Choose the one that best fits your organization's needs. Key difference:

* **Delegated auth** uses your user's identity, is tied to your account and permissions, also requiring you to be a **Power Platform Administrator**;
* **Service Principal** is an independent application identity that doesn't depend on any user, but can be a bit more complicated to setup.

**Delegated (User OAuth)**

### Set up the integration

**1. Open Microsoft 365 admin center**

Navigate to [**Microsoft 365 admin center** -> **Active users**](https://admin.microsoft.com/#/users) and choose the user that Datafold will authenticate under.

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/9DgdnO4sVNte36u-/images/power-bi/microsoft-admin-user.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=9DgdnO4sVNte36u-\&q=85\&s=38be66f2206263532520e4dc5ccd56a9)

As highlighted in the screenshot above, this user should have the **Power Platform Administrator** role assigned to it.

**2. If the role is missing, assign it**

Click **Manage roles**, enable the **Power Platform Administrator** role, and save changes.

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/9DgdnO4sVNte36u-/images/power-bi/microsoft-role.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=9DgdnO4sVNte36u-\&q=85\&s=10a2d7a38614008498702ea653240b45)

**3. Configure Power BI API**

Navigate to [Power BI Admin Portal](https://app.powerbi.com/admin-portal/tenantSettings?experience=power-bi) and enable the following two settings:

* Enhance admin APIs responses with detailed metadata
* Enhance admin APIs responses with DAX and mashup expressions

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/9DgdnO4sVNte36u-/images/power-bi/admin-portal.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=9DgdnO4sVNte36u-\&q=85\&s=947277d450e3507854f041e1dc1bf924)

**4. Create Power BI integration in Datafold**

In the Datafold app, navigate to **Settings** -> **BI & Data Apps**, and click **+ Add new integration**. Choose **Power BI** from the list.

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/9DgdnO4sVNte36u-/images/power-bi/create.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=9DgdnO4sVNte36u-\&q=85\&s=b19abe212823cc0404644d16668aa588)

**5. Fill in the name for your new integration**

...and then **Save**.

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/qH5vFV99qD-5khom/images/power-bi/new-integration-delegated.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=qH5vFV99qD-5khom\&q=85\&s=196ffe47f065efe282c31431bf577629)

On clicking **Save**, the system will redirect you to Power BI.

**6. Sign in to Power BI**

...if not already signed in.

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/9DgdnO4sVNte36u-/images/power-bi/sign-in.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=9DgdnO4sVNte36u-\&q=85\&s=9bb6c26dca422fdc86ee250477dc0d5c)

**7. Grant permissions to Datafold**

Allow the Datafold integration to use Power BI. Depending on the roles configured for your user in the Admin center, you may require a confirmation from a **Global Administrator**. Follow the steps in the wizard.

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/9DgdnO4sVNte36u-/images/power-bi/consent.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=9DgdnO4sVNte36u-\&q=85\&s=6a1ad1535bbf09d220fb5c2783e1d6aa)

**8. Integration is ready**

You will be redirected back to Datafold and see a message that Power BI is successfully connected.

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/9DgdnO4sVNte36u-/images/power-bi/success.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=9DgdnO4sVNte36u-\&q=85\&s=756557c082662c5834d34daa351ddc60)

**Service Principal**

### Set up the integration

**1. Create a Microsoft Entra ID App Registration**

1. Go to [Microsoft Entra admin center - New Registration](https://entra.microsoft.com/?l=en.en-us#view/Microsoft_AAD_RegisteredApps/CreateApplicationBlade/quickStartType~/null/isMSAApp~/false)
2. Configure the application:
   * **Name**: `Datafold Power BI Integration` (or similar)
   * **Supported account types**: "Accounts in this organizational directory only"
   * **Redirect URI**: Leave blank (not needed for Service Principal)

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/qH5vFV99qD-5khom/images/power-bi/service-principal/register-an-application.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=qH5vFV99qD-5khom\&q=85\&s=e1944be09e095f08af049fcc7ee3671c)

3. Click **Register**
4. Note the **Application (client) ID** and **Directory (tenant) ID** from the Overview page

**2. Create a Client Secret**

1. In the App Registration, go to **Certificates & secrets**
2. Click **New client secret**
3. Add a description (e.g., "Datafold integration") and choose an expiration period
4. Click **Add**

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/qH5vFV99qD-5khom/images/power-bi/service-principal/certificates-and-secrets.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=qH5vFV99qD-5khom\&q=85\&s=f0f35b46b7c6d692f7737c5261412c9d)

5. **Important**: Copy the secret **Value** immediately—it won't be shown again

**3. Create a Security Group**

1. Go to [Microsoft Entra admin center - Groups](https://entra.microsoft.com/?l=en.en-us#view/Microsoft_AAD_IAM/AddGroupBlade)
2. Click **New group**
3. Configure:
   * **Group type**: Security
   * **Group name**: `Power BI Service Principals` (or similar)
   * **Group description**: "Service principals allowed to access Power BI APIs"
   * **Membership type**: Assigned
4. In the **Members** section, click **Add members**
5. Search for and add your App Registration (by name or Client ID)

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/qH5vFV99qD-5khom/images/power-bi/service-principal/new-group.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=qH5vFV99qD-5khom\&q=85\&s=77ccc8b428b414d0a904d7eea4e86f24)

6. Click **Create**

**4. Configure Power BI Admin Portal**

1. Go to [Power BI Admin Portal](https://app.powerbi.com/admin-portal/tenantSettings)
2. Navigate to **Tenant settings**
3. Enable these settings and apply them to your security group (or to the whole organization, as you see fit):

* **Allow service principals to use Power BI APIs**
* **Allow service principals to use read-only admin APIs**
* **Enhance admin APIs responses with detailed metadata**
* **Enhance admin APIs responses with DAX and mashup expressions**

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/qH5vFV99qD-5khom/images/power-bi/service-principal/power-bi-admin-api-settings.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=qH5vFV99qD-5khom\&q=85\&s=e490901f5013423f0e9e996bec7d86ea)

**5. Grant Workspace Access**

You must explicitly grant access to each workspace you want Datafold to sync:

1. Open the Power BI workspace you want to sync
2. Click **Access** (or the gear icon -> Manage access)

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/qH5vFV99qD-5khom/images/power-bi/service-principal/manage-access.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=qH5vFV99qD-5khom\&q=85\&s=25cc38c99e8da06fd3eb81caf97013fd)

3. Add your App Registration as an **Admin** or **Member**
4. Repeat for each workspace you want Datafold to access

**6. Configure Datafold**

1. Go to Datafold -> **Settings** -> **BI & Data Apps**
2. Click **+ Add new integration** -> **Power BI**
3. Select **Service Principal** as the authentication type
4. Enter the credentials:
   * **Client ID**: The Application (client) ID from Step 1
   * **Client Secret**: The secret value from Step 2
   * **Tenant ID**: The Directory (tenant) ID from Step 1

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/qH5vFV99qD-5khom/images/power-bi/service-principal/new-integration-service-principal.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=qH5vFV99qD-5khom\&q=85\&s=461a583185c280df56a716c310aef123)

5. Click **Save**

## Verify the integration

**1. Power BI integration needs some time to sync**

You can check out **Jobs** -> **BI & Data Apps** for the status of the sync job.

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/9DgdnO4sVNte36u-/images/power-bi/jobs.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=9DgdnO4sVNte36u-\&q=85\&s=a1288e76fb558f0c37875a812f1bc119)

See [Tracking Jobs](https://docs.datafold.com/classic/integrations/bi-data-apps/tracking-jobs.md) for more details.

**2. Power BI entities are now searchable**

When the sync is complete, you will see Power BI entities in **Data Explorer**.

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/9DgdnO4sVNte36u-/images/power-bi/data-explorer.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=9DgdnO4sVNte36u-\&q=85\&s=4d97fd3f9b6da71c68b07af43723c3e5)

**3. Lineage is now available**

![](https://mintcdn.com/datafold/9DgdnO4sVNte36u-/images/power-bi/lineage.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=9DgdnO4sVNte36u-\&q=85\&s=ab5d1896b8ccfa79e156cec7a604b6bb)

## Need help?

If you have any questions about our Power BI integration, please reach out to our team via Slack, in-app chat, or email us at [support@datafold.com](mailto:support@datafold.com).


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.