Install Power BI Desktop
To be able to create Power BI reports, you need to download and install Power BI desktop. With the Power BI Desktop, you can visually explore your data through a free-form drag-and-drop canvas, a broad range of modern data visualizations, and an easy-to-use report authoring experience.
You can download Power BI Desktop from the web or as an app from the Microsoft Store.
Windows Store app
A significant benefit is it automatically stays updated if you use this method.
Download Power BI Desktop from web
If you use this option, you must manually update Power BI Desktop periodically.
If you decide to install from the web, the installer file downloads and then you can run it. Follow the installation wizard to complete the installation.
After installation, you can start Power BI Desktop with the corresponding shortcut in your Start menu. The Power BI desktop is like a home page for Power BI.
Power BI consists of a Microsoft Windows desktop application called Power BI Desktop, an online SaaS (Software as a Service) service called the Power BI service, and Power BI mobile apps that are available on any device, with native Power BI mobile apps for Windows, iOS, and Android.
These three elements are designed to let people create, share, and consume business insights in the way that serves them, or their role, most effectively.
A common flow of work in Power BI begins in Power BI Desktop, where a report is created. That report is then published to the Power BI service and finally shared, so that users of Power BI Mobile apps can consume the information.
Before you can sign into Power BI, you need an account. To get a free trial, go to the Power BI sign up page and sign up with your email address.
For detailed steps on setting up an account, see Sign into Power BI service.
The activities and analyses that you learn with Power BI generally follow a common flow. The common flow of activity looks like this.
Bring data into Power BI Desktop, and create a report.
Publish to the Power BI service, where you can create new visualizations or build dashboards.
Share dashboards with others, especially people who are on the go.
View and interact with shared dashboards and reports in Power BI Mobile apps.
Embed Power BI reports in Business Central.
