Minimum credentials on SQL Server to connect via Power BI Desktop

[Anonymous]

I would like to create a user on SQL Server with minimal permissions (ideally Read Only) that can then be used to log in via Power BI Desktop.  My *.pbix file connects to a database View via DirectQuery.

I have one User that is a "sysadmin" under the Server Role and that works.  But, that's too many permissions.

I created a new User and gave it Login Properties > Server Role = "public", then went into the database I need and gave it Membership > db_datareader.  I thought this would work, but it doesn't.  I get the "We couldn't authenticate with the credentials provided. Please try again" error.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

This was a weird one, but thankfully someone at DBA.StackExchange gave the simple answer which solved it.

The solution was to use a brand new username and start from scratch.  Previously I was using a Username which we use in other places and it must have had some other associations with it.  But, when I used a new Username, it immediately worked as expected!

[v-shex-msft]

Hi @Anonymous,

Your issue seems more related to setting user permission on database, I'd like to suggest your post this to Sql server related forum for better support.

Msdn forums - SQL Server - Microsoft

Regards,

Xiaoxin Sheng