Graphed LogoGraphed
Login

How to Learn Power BI on Mac

Cody Schneider•

So, you have a Mac and you want to learn Power BI, Microsoft's powerhouse data visualization tool. You quickly run into the classic problem: Power BI Desktop, the main application for building reports, is a Windows-only program. It’s a frustrating roadblock, but it doesn’t mean you have to buy a whole new PC. This article will walk you through the most practical ways to get Power BI running on your Mac so you can start learning and building reports today.

So, Why Isn't Power BI on Mac Anyway?

This is a common question, and the answer is fairly simple: ecosystems. Microsoft develops Power BI as a core part of its Windows and Azure cloud ecosystem. The application is built on the .NET framework and has deep integrations with other Windows products like Excel and SQL Server, making a native macOS version a significant technical undertaking. While it's inconvenient, Microsoft's focus has been on making the viewing and sharing experience (Power BI Service) available on any web browser, while keeping the heavy-duty development work tied to Windows.

But don't worry. Just because there's no "Power BI for Mac" download button doesn't mean you're out of luck. There are several reliable methods to get the full Power BI Desktop experience on your Apple hardware.

Option 1: Use a Virtual Machine

Running a Virtual Machine (VM) is the most popular and effective way for Mac users to work with Power BI Desktop. Think of a VM as a "computer inside your computer." It's software that emulates a full Windows PC right on your macOS desktop, letting you install and run Windows applications as if you were on a native machine.

What It Involves

You’ll install VM software, which creates a virtual space for a new operating system. Inside that VM, you install a full version of Windows. From there, you just download and open Power BI Desktop like any other Windows user would. It gives you the complete, unrestricted experience.

  • Pros: Full, uncapped access to Power BI Desktop and its features. Fast performance on modern Macs (especially with Apple Silicon). Files can be easily shared between macOS and your Windows VM.

  • Cons: Requires buying a VM software license (most of the good ones aren't free) and a Windows license. Uses significant Mac resources (RAM and disk space).

Recommended VM Software for Mac

  1. Parallels Desktop: This is the crowd favorite for a reason. It's incredibly user-friendly, highly optimized for Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3 chips), and offers a feature called "Coherence Mode" that lets you run Windows apps like Power BI directly from your Mac dock, making them feel like native Mac apps.

  2. VMWare Fusion: Another professional-grade option that is a strong competitor to Parallels. It offers powerful features and is now free for personal use, which is a big advantage if you're on a budget.

  3. UTM (Free): A completely free and open-source option that uses QEMU emulation technology. It's more technical to set up than Parallels or VMWare, but it's a solid choice if you're comfortable with a bit more configuration.

Step-by-Step: Getting Power BI with Parallels

Since Parallels is the most streamlined solution, let's walk through that setup.

  1. Download and Install Parallels: Head to the Parallels website, download the latest version, and install it. It offers a free 14-day trial, so you can test it risk-free.

  2. Install Windows: The moment you open Parallels, it will prompt you to install Windows. On newer Macs with Apple Silicon, it will automatically offer to download and install Windows 11 on ARM. The process is almost entirely automated - just one click and it handles the rest. You can purchase a Windows 11 license directly through the interface or use an existing one.

  3. Launch Windows: Once installed, you’ll have a Windows desktop operating in a window on your Mac. You can switch between macOS and Windows seamlessly.

  4. Download and Install Power BI Desktop: Open the Microsoft Edge browser inside your new Windows VM, navigate to the Power BI Desktop download page, and install it. It’s a plug-and-play experience. Pin the Power BI icon to your Windows taskbar for easy access.

  5. Try Coherence Mode: One of the best features of Parallels is Coherence. In the 'View' menu, select 'Enter Coherence.' This makes the Windows desktop disappear, and your Power BI application will float on your Mac desktop right alongside your other Mac apps. It’s the closest you’ll get to a "native" feel.

This entire process, from start to finish, can be done in under 30 minutes. It's a reliable and powerful setup used by thousands of data professionals who prefer Mac hardware.

Option 2: Microsoft's Windows 365 Cloud PC

If you're not keen on dedicating your Mac's resources to running a VM, another excellent option is to stream a Windows desktop from the cloud. This is exactly what a service like Windows 365 Cloud PC offers.

What It Involves

You subscribe to a service that gives you your own personal Windows computer hosted on Microsoft's servers. You can access this "Cloud PC" from any device through a web browser or Microsoft's Remote Desktop app. Since the PC is in the cloud, all the processing and resource usage happens there, not on your Mac.

  • Pros: Zero impact on your Mac's local performance and storage. Your cloud desktop can be more powerful than your local machine. You can access it from any computer, not just your Mac.

  • Cons: It requires a monthly subscription, which is more expensive than a one-time VM software license. Relies entirely on your internet connection - a spotty connection means a frustrating experience.

How to Get Started with a Cloud PC

  1. Sign up for a Plan: You need a business or enterprise account to get a Windows 365 license. Plans are priced based on performance (vCPU, RAM, Storage).

  2. Access Your Cloud PC: Once it's ready, you can go to https://windows365.microsoft.com/ and sign in. You can open your Cloud PC directly in your web browser.

  3. Install Power BI Desktop: Inside your Cloud PC, you have a fully functional Windows environment. Just like with a VM, open the browser, download Power BI Desktop, and install it.

This option is fantastic for people in a corporate environment where their company might already provide such accounts, or for freelancers who need a powerful Windows environment accessible from multiple locations.

Option 3: Use Only Power BI Service (with Limitations)

It's important to clear up a common point of confusion. There are two main parts to the Power BI universe:

  • Power BI Desktop: The Windows application used to connect to data sources, clean up data in Power Query, build data models in Power Pivot, and design reports. This is where reports are created.

  • Power BI Service: The web-based platform (https://app.powerbi.com) where you publish, share, and collaborate on reports. This is where reports are consumed.

You can access Power BI Service on your Mac through any web browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox) without any special setup. However, its capabilities are for consuming, not creating from scratch.

What you can do in Power BI Service on a Mac:

  • View and interact with dashboards and reports that have already been created and published by someone using Power BI Desktop.

  • Use filters, slicers, and drill-down features on existing visuals.

  • Analyze data in Excel or download dashboard data.

  • Create basic reports from datasets that are already published in the service.

What you can't do:

This is the important part. You cannot replicate the full development workflow of Power BI Desktop. You lack access to the Power Query Editor for advanced data transformation and the data modeling view for creating relationships and DAX measures. For anyone seriously trying to learn Power BI, this isn't enough.

The takeaway: Using the web-based Power BI service is perfect if you’re a stakeholder who just needs to look at reports. It's not a viable solution if you are the one responsible for building those reports from the ground up.

Which Method Is Best for You?

The right choice depends entirely on your needs and budget.

  • Go with a Virtual Machine (like Parallels) if you are a data analyst, student, or developer who needs the full, powerful experience of creating data models and reports. This is the most complete and robust solution for getting your work done.

  • Go with a Windows 365 Cloud PC if your company provides it, or if you prefer a 'hands-off' approach without bogging down your computer's resources and need access from anywhere with a good internet connection.

  • Go with only using Power BI Service if your role is simply to view and interact with reports that someone else has already built for you.

Final Thoughts

Running Power BI on a Mac is completely doable and doesn't need to be a major hurdle. Whether you opt for a local virtual machine or a cloud-based PC, you can get access to the complete Power BI Desktop experience and unlock its full potential for data analysis and visualization, all from the comfort of your macOS environment.

As you dive deeper into data analytics, you'll also find that many modern tools are breaking away from being platform-dependent. We built Graphed for this very reason. Instead of worrying about operating systems or complex installations, our platform works directly in your browser. All you have to do is connect your data sources - like Google Analytics, Shopify, or Salesforce - and use natural language to create the dashboards you need. It’s an approach that lets you skip the technical setup and get straight to finding insights.