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Power BIbi_tool~5 mins

Power BI Desktop vs Service vs Mobile - Compared

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Introduction
Power BI has three main parts: Desktop, Service, and Mobile. Each part helps you work with data in different ways. Desktop is for creating reports, Service is for sharing and collaborating online, and Mobile is for viewing reports on the go.
When you want to build detailed reports and data models on your computer, use Power BI Desktop.
When you need to share reports with your team or access them from anywhere, use Power BI Service.
When you want to check your reports quickly on your phone or tablet, use Power BI Mobile.
When you want to schedule data refreshes and manage permissions, use Power BI Service.
When you want to explore data interactively and create visuals, use Power BI Desktop.
Steps
Step 1: Open Power BI Desktop
- Start menu or desktop shortcut
The report canvas and data model view appear, ready for building reports
💡 Use Desktop to connect to data sources and create visuals
Step 2: Publish your report
- Home tab > Publish button in Power BI Desktop
Your report uploads to Power BI Service and is available online
💡 Sign in with your Power BI account before publishing
Step 3: Open Power BI Service
- Web browser at app.powerbi.com
You see your published reports and dashboards in your workspace
💡 Use Service to share reports and set up data refresh schedules
Step 4: Open Power BI Mobile app
- Mobile device home screen or app drawer
Your reports and dashboards load for easy viewing on your phone or tablet
💡 Use Mobile to check data anytime, anywhere
Before vs After
Before
Report created only on Power BI Desktop, visible only on your computer
After
Report published to Power BI Service, accessible online and on mobile devices
Settings Reference
Publish
📍 Power BI Desktop Home tab
Uploads reports from Desktop to Service for sharing
Default: My Workspace
Data refresh schedule
📍 Power BI Service workspace settings
Keeps your data up to date automatically in Service
Default: Manual
Mobile layout
📍 Power BI Desktop View tab > Mobile Layout
Optimizes report visuals for mobile devices
Default: Same as desktop layout
Common Mistakes
Trying to share reports directly from Power BI Desktop without publishing
Desktop files are local and cannot be shared online without publishing
Publish the report to Power BI Service to share with others
Expecting Power BI Mobile to create or edit reports
Mobile app is designed only for viewing and interacting with reports
Use Power BI Desktop to create or edit reports, then view them on Mobile
Summary
Power BI Desktop is for creating and designing reports on your computer.
Power BI Service lets you share, collaborate, and manage reports online.
Power BI Mobile allows you to view and interact with reports on your phone or tablet.
You must publish reports from Desktop to Service to share and access them on Mobile.