How to Set Up Scheduled Refreshes in Power BI

Updated on:

April 6, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to set up scheduled data refreshes in your Power BI reports.

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Setting up Scheduled Refreshes in Power BI is key if you want your reports to stay up-to-date without manual uploads. Here’s how to do it:

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Let's begin by navigating to 'My workspace' in the Power BI service, where all your reports and datasets are stored.
Once in your workspace, find and select the semantic model that you want to set up for automatic refreshes.
Look for the three dots next to your dataset and click to reveal the menu options.
From the dropdown menu, select 'Refresh' to access the dataset configuration options.
In the ‘Settings’ panel, find the 'Scheduled refresh' section and toggle 'Keep data updated' to 'ON'.
Under 'Refresh frequency', choose 'Daily' or 'Weekly' based on your needs.
Select your preferred time zone, then specify exactly when you want refreshes to occur.
Review your settings one last time, then click 'Apply' to save your schedule. Your data will now refresh automatically like clockwork.

📌 Why this matters

Scheduled refreshes eliminate the constant worry about stale data undermining your decisions. You can confidently share dashboards with stakeholders knowing the numbers are current, and avoid those awkward moments when someone questions outdated metrics during presentations.

Beyond convenience, this automation creates a reliable data pipeline that scales with your organization. As more teams depend on your reports, manual refreshes become a bottleneck that can delay critical business decisions by hours or even days.

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