How to Schedule Refresh in Power BI: Step-by-Step Guide

To schedule a data refresh in Power BI, go to the Power BI Service, select your dataset, and use the Scheduled refresh option to set the refresh frequency and time. Make sure your data source credentials are updated and the dataset is published to Power BI Service.

Syntax

Scheduling refresh in Power BI is done through the Power BI Service interface, not by code. The main parts are:

• Dataset: The data model you want to refresh.
• Scheduled refresh: The feature to set refresh frequency and time.
• Data source credentials: Authentication details to access your data.

You configure these settings in the Power BI Service under your workspace.

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No code syntax; configuration is done via Power BI Service UI.

Example

This example shows how to schedule a daily refresh at 8 AM for a dataset in Power BI Service.

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1. Publish your Power BI Desktop report to Power BI Service.
2. Open Power BI Service and go to your workspace.
3. Click on <strong>Datasets + dataflows</strong>.
4. Find your dataset and click the ellipsis (...) next to it.
5. Select <strong>Settings</strong>.
6. Scroll to <strong>Scheduled refresh</strong> section.
7. Turn on <strong>Keep your data up to date</strong>.
8. Set <strong>Refresh frequency</strong> to Daily.
9. Set the <strong>Time</strong> to 8:00 AM.
10. Enter or update your data source credentials under <strong>Data source credentials</strong>.
11. Click <strong>Apply</strong> to save settings.

Output

Dataset will refresh automatically every day at 8 AM.

Common Pitfalls

• Missing or expired credentials: Refresh fails if credentials are not updated.
• Unsupported data sources: Some sources do not support scheduled refresh.
• Refresh limits: Power BI Pro allows up to 8 refreshes per day; Premium allows more.
• Dataset size: Very large datasets may cause refresh to time out.

Always check refresh history for errors and fix issues promptly.

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Wrong way:
- Forgetting to update credentials leads to refresh failure.

Right way:
- Regularly update credentials in Power BI Service settings.

Quick Reference

Step	Action
1	Publish report to Power BI Service
2	Go to workspace > Datasets + dataflows
3	Select dataset > Settings
4	Enable Scheduled refresh
5	Set frequency and time
6	Update data source credentials
7	Save settings

Key Takeaways

Schedule refresh in Power BI Service under dataset settings, not in Power BI Desktop.

Always keep your data source credentials updated to avoid refresh failures.

Power BI Pro limits refresh frequency to 8 times per day; Premium allows more.

Check refresh history regularly to catch and fix errors quickly.

Scheduling refresh keeps your reports up-to-date automatically without manual effort.