How to Connect to SQL Server in Power BI: 1-Min Guide

How to Connect to SQL Server in Power BI

Updated on:

May 12, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to connect Power BI Desktop to a SQL Server database.

Quick summary

This demo walks you through connecting Power BI Desktop to SQL Server using the built-in SQL Server connector. In just four steps, you can import live database data into your Power BI reports without writing any code.

Steps

Open Power BI Desktop and navigate to your report.
Go to the Home tab and select SQL Server from the data source options.
Enter the server and database connection information in the dialog box.
Click OK to complete the connection to SQL Server.

📌 Why this matters

Connecting Power BI Desktop to SQL Server unlocks direct access to relational database data, enabling analysts and business users to build real-time, data-driven reports without manual exports or third-party tools. The native SQL Server connector in Power BI simplifies the authentication and configuration process, reducing setup time from hours to minutes. For organizations that store critical business data in SQL Server, this integration is essential for accurate, up-to-date dashboards and self-service analytics at scale.

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