Connect to SharePoint List - possible to do from service (not desktop)?

[OneWithQuestion]

I can connect to SharePoint lists via the desktop app but is there no way to do that from the online PowerBI web service?

Do you HAVE to install Desktop to connect to SPO lists?

Thanks!

[Greg_Deckler · Accepted solution]

The Service is not really designed for you to just connect to anything and build and manipulate data models within the Service itself. It is really designed to have pre-published data models or Apps with predefined data models, reports and dashboards that you can then work with to build reports. So, yes, you need to use Desktop to connect to SharePoint lists and then publish those data models out to the Service. But, the good news is that it is free to use. Once it is published out to the Service from the Desktop though, you do not need the Desktop to keep it refreshed.