How to Install Power BI? A Beginner's Guide

Let’s say that you’re about to present crucial data insights to your team, but you’re stuck because you don’t know how to Install Power BI. Sounds frustrating, doesn’t it? To overcome such circumstances, our blog will walk you through its step-by-step process, ensuring you can download and work on Power BI with ease. 

By the end, you’ll not only know how to Install Power BI but also be ready to dive into its powerful features. Read more to get started and transform your Data Analysis skills!

Table of Contents 

1) What do you Require to Install Power BI? 

2) How to Download Power BI? 

3) How to Install Power BI? 

   a) Steps to Install Power BI Desktop 

   b) Steps to use Power BI Web-based Client 

4) Conclusion

What do you Require to Install Power BI? 

You should be aware of the specifications required before proceeding with downloading and installing Power BI. The following are the minimum and usual requirements for installing Power BI on your Desktop or running its Web-based Client:  

1) Operating System: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, or Windows Server 2019. 

2) Platform: Both 64-bit (x64) and 32-bit (x86) platforms support Power BI Desktop. 

3) Web Browser: Internet Explorer 10 or a newer version is needed to run Power BI web-based client. 

4) .NET Framework: Power BI Desktop requires .NET Framework 4.5 or higher. 

5) CPU: A CPU with at least 1 Gigahertz (GHz) speed is recommended for smooth performance of Power BI Desktop. 

How to Download Power BI? 

To download Power BI Desktop on your computer, you need to follow a set of simple steps as discussed below: 

1) To download the Power BI Desktop application, you must first visit the official Power BI website.  

2) Once on the official Power BI website, click the “Download or Language Options” button. You will see a dropdown box after clicking on the “Download or Language Options” button. From the dropdown box, you can select your preferred language.  

3) The content of the Power BI package you are about to download will change once you have selected the language of your choice. After that, click on the “Download” button. 

4) After you have selected the “Download button”, you will be required to choose a downloadable file – either 32-bit or 64-bit. Make the appropriate choice depending on your system architecture. 

5) Select the file name that is compatible with your system to enable the “Next” button. Choose the “Next” button to start downloading the file to your desktop. 

Create impactful reports that drive business success – sign up for our Microsoft BI Training now!

How to Install Power BI? 

Once you have downloaded the file to your device, you will need to follow a process to install it on your Desktop. This section of the blog will guide you on how to install the tool on your desktop, as well as how to use the Power BI Web-based Client on your browser. 

Steps to Install Power BI Desktop 

The following steps will guide you on how to Install Power BI Desktop on your device:  

1) Once you open the downloaded file on your system, you will notice a Microsoft Power BI Desktop (x32 or x64) Setup Wizard. 

2) On the Setup Wizard, select the language of your preference and then click the “Next” button to proceed.

Upon doing that, you will be asked to click the “Next” button to move forward or the “Cancel” button to exit the Setup Wizard. 

3) The license agreement dialog box will pop up after you click the “Next” button to proceed. Once you have read the license terms, click the checkbox to enable the “Next” button and proceed. 

4) Clicking on the “Next” button will open the Destination Folder dialog box, where you can choose the destination for the application to be saved. You can either save it in its default location in the C Drive or use the “Change” button to select a location of your choice. 

5) After selecting the destination folder, a dialog box will confirm that the file is now ready for installation. The dialog box might ask you for confirmation to begin the installation, and you can start the process by clicking on “Install.” If you want to make changes to the installation settings, click on the “Back” button.  

6) Wait until the set-up method is finished, and when done, click the “Finish” button to effectively complete the set up. Wait for a few seconds to begin Power BI Desktop.   

Transform raw data into actionable insights – join our Business Intelligence Reporting Courses today!

Steps to use Power BI Web-based Client 

The following steps will help you use Power BI in a browser of your choice: 

1) Open your preferred browser and visit Microsoft’s “Power BI – How to Get Started” page. 

2) You will be required to sign up on the website by utilising your email address. Upon doing so, you will either create a new account or continue with your existing Power BI account. 

3) Once you have logged in, you should be able to see the Power BI Web-based Client. You can now begin to use Power BI for your purpose.  

a) However, you may encounter an error message saying “We can’t finish signing you up.” To avoid this, ensure that you are logging in with your Office 365 ProPlus eligible account.  

b) Make sure that you have an active Office 365 account by changing your NetID password on the NetID Self-Service Page. Doing this will activate your account for Power BI usage, and your account will be active when you attempt to log in the next time.  

Conclusion 

We hope this blog has helped you successfully navigate the steps to Install Power BI. With Power BI at your fingertips, the possibilities for Data Analysis and Business Intelligence (BI) are endless. So, start exploring the power of your data!

Acquire the skills needed to excel in the competitive BI landscape by investing in our Cognos BI Training.