OData and REST API connections in Power BI - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

This feature helps you bring data from online services into Power BI using OData or REST APIs. It solves the problem of connecting to live web data sources so you can analyze and visualize them easily.

When you want to get sales data from an online service that provides an OData feed.

When your marketing data is available through a REST API and you want to create reports in Power BI.

When you need to refresh your dashboard automatically with data from a web service.

When your company uses cloud services that expose data via OData or REST APIs.

When you want to combine web data with your local data for deeper insights.

Steps

Step 1: Click

- Home tab > Get data dropdown

The Get Data window opens showing data source options

Step 2: Select

- Get Data window > Online Services > OData Feed

The OData Feed connection dialog appears

Step 3: Type or paste

- OData Feed dialog > URL field

The URL of the OData service is entered

Step 4: Click

- OData Feed dialog > OK button

Power BI connects to the OData service and shows available tables

Step 5: Select

- Navigator pane

The chosen tables or data sets are highlighted for import

Step 6: Click

- Navigator pane > Load button

The selected data loads into Power BI for analysis

Step 7: For REST API, click

- Home tab > Get data dropdown > Web

The Web connection dialog opens to enter REST API URL

💡 Use advanced options to add headers or authentication if needed

Before vs After

Before

Power BI has no data loaded from the web service

After

Power BI shows tables and data imported from the OData or REST API source ready for reporting

Settings Reference

Authentication Method

📍 OData Feed or Web connection dialog

To securely connect to the data source using the correct credentials

Default: Anonymous

HTTP Request Headers

📍 Web connection dialog > Advanced options

To send extra information like API keys or tokens required by REST APIs

Default: None

Data Load Mode

📍 Navigator pane > Load dropdown

Choose to load data directly or open Power Query Editor to clean data first

Default: Load

Common Mistakes

Entering the wrong URL format for the OData or REST API endpoint

Power BI cannot connect if the URL is incorrect or incomplete

Copy the exact URL from the service documentation or test it in a browser first

Not setting authentication when the API requires it

Connection fails or returns no data without proper credentials

Use the Authentication Method setting and provide necessary credentials or tokens

Trying to load large data sets without filtering or transforming first

This can slow down Power BI or cause memory issues

Use Transform Data to filter or reduce data before loading

Summary

OData and REST API connections let you bring live web data into Power BI for analysis.

You must enter the correct URL and authentication to connect successfully.

Use the Navigator to select and load only the data you need for better performance.