PowerBI Desktop Report - Does Not Update

[Anonymous]

I created a PowerBI Desktop Report and I setup a On-Premises Data Gateway between my computer and the workspace. I confirmed that the data gateway is working by building a new report on PowerBI.com and checking the dataset which contained refreshed data.

I have scheduled refresh setup to refresh the dataset just a few times per day. I have a PowerBI Pro License.

My problem is even though I know the scheduled refresh of the data is working the PowerBI Desktop report will not update automatically. I have to manually go into the report and refresh it daily. I would like to automate this process but there doesn't seem to be anything that allows me to refresh the report, only the dataset.

Isn't the report just an interpretation of the dataset? Shouldn't it update automatically as the dataset is refreshed? I want to make sure I understand the process.

[sgsukumaran · Accepted solution]

Scheduled refresh only works for PowerBI service. Currently there is no way to automatically update PBI desktop data!!. Unfortunately you have to refresh the data manually every time you work on PBI desktop.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/refresh-data

[Anonymous]

Thank you! That makes sense but is a little annoying.

Can I convert my desktop report to a service report that will refresh automatically?

Do you know if there are any drawbacks to using service to build reports versus desktop?

[sgsukumaran]

@Anonymous - Once you publish to service you can schedule refreshes automatically. The added advantage being you are not usin your local machine In Memory anymore.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/refresh-scheduled-refresh

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your help. I will open/ edit the pbix file in service and re-save it and test a refresh to the dataset to see if the report updates.