---
title: Microsoft Power BI
description: "Microsoft Power BI is a popular business intelligence tool."
hidden: true
---

[Microsoft Power BI][link-powerbi] is a popular business intelligence tool.

Cube Cloud works with both [Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service][link-powerbi-desktop-vs-service].
If you're using Power BI Service, you need to set up an [on-premises data gateway][link-powerbi-gateway].

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## Connect to the DAX API

Cube Cloud provides the [DAX API][ref-dax-api] for the native Power BI connectivity.

<Info>

Previously, [Semantic Layer Sync][ref-sls] was recommended as a way to connect
to Power BI. Since the introduction of the DAX API, it's now the preferred
method.

</Info>

In Power BI Desktop, choose the **SQL Server Analysis Services database** option
when connecting to a data source. Then, enter the DAX API credentials and choose
**Windows** authentication. It accommodates both [Kerberos][ref-kerberos] and
[NTLM][ref-ntlm] methods.

To find your DAX API credentials, go to the [Integrations][ref-integrations-apis] page,
click **API credentials**, and choose the **DAX API** tab. Use the full DAX API URL,
including the `/cubejs-api/v2/dax` path, as the server name — with a bare hostname, the
client tries to reach an Analysis Services instance on TCP port 2383 and fails to
connect.

Authentication for the DAX API — the XMLA service account, NTLM credentials, and
Kerberos assets — is configured on the **Settings → Power BI** page of your deployment.

### Authentication methods

Cube Cloud supports the following authentication methods for Power BI:

| Application | Authentication | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Power BI Desktop | [NTLM][ref-ntlm-desktop] | 🟡 Works well for testing purposes |
| Power BI Desktop | [Kerberos][ref-kerberos] | 🟢 Recommended for production |
| Power BI Service | [NTLM][ref-ntlm] + [Kerberos][ref-kerberos] | 🟢 Recommended for production.<br/>Requires [on-premises data gateway][ref-opdg] |

### Connection methods

Cube uses Power BI's [_live connection_][link-powerbi-live] mode. You compose
queries using the Power BI UI, and they run against your Cube semantic model in
real time, so you always work with up-to-date data and an up-to-date model.

<Warning>

Power BI's other connection methods, [_DirectQuery_][link-powerbi-directquery]
and _import mode_, are not supported. Because writing your own DAX queries
requires _DirectQuery_, custom DAX queries are not supported either.

</Warning>

## Connect to the SQL API

You can connect a Cube deployment to Power BI using the [SQL API][ref-sql-api]
as if Cube is a Postgres database. It would provide much more limited functionality
than the DAX API. However, this is the only option when using Cube Core.


[link-powerbi]: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/power-platform/products/power-bi/
[link-powerbi-desktop-vs-service]: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/fundamentals/service-service-vs-desktop
[link-powerbi-gateway]: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/service-gateway-onprem
[ref-dax-api]: /reference/core-data-apis/dax-api
[ref-integrations-apis]: /admin/connect-to-data/visualization-tools
[ref-sql-api]: /reference/core-data-apis/sql-api
[ref-sls]: /docs/integrations/semantic-layer-sync
[ref-kerberos]: /reference/core-data-apis/dax-api/kerberos
[ref-ntlm]: /reference/core-data-apis/dax-api/ntlm
[ref-ntlm-desktop]: /reference/core-data-apis/dax-api/ntlm#power-bi-desktop
[link-powerbi-live]: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/desktop-directquery-about#live-connections
[link-powerbi-directquery]: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/desktop-directquery-about
[ref-opdg]: /reference/core-data-apis/dax-api/ntlm#configuration