How to Update Power BI Desktop Automatically

Tired of seeing that "A new version of Power BI Desktop is available" notification pop up right when you're deep in analysis? It feels like every time you get comfortable, Microsoft rolls out another monthly update you have to go fetch and install manually. This article will show you the simple, set-and-forget way to put your Power BI Desktop updates on autopilot for good.

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Why You Shouldn't Ignore Power BI Updates

While it’s tempting to hit "Remind me later" and get back to work, staying on the latest version of Power BI Desktop is more important than you might think. Microsoft releases updates every single month, and they aren't just minor tweaks. Each update usually includes:

• New Features: These can range from brand-new visual types and DAX functions to game-changing additions in Power Query that can save you hours of work.
• Performance Improvements: Updates often make the application run faster, smoother, and handle large datasets more efficiently.
• Bug Fixes: That annoying glitch a certain visual has or a performance quirk you've been working around might have been patched in the latest release.

Ignoring updates means you're missing out on tools that could make your job easier and your reports more powerful. The good news is, you don’t have to keep track of it yourself.

The Old Way: Manual Updates

If you downloaded Power BI Desktop by searching online and grabbing the installer file (an .exe or .msi file) directly from the Microsoft website, you’re on the manual update track. This means every time a new version is released, your only options are:

1. Wait for the in-app notification and click the link to download the new version.
2. Go to the Power BI website yourself, download the latest installer, and run it.

This is a totally valid way to use the software, but it’s a recurring chore. There's a much better way that Microsoft has provided that most people just don't know about.

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The Best Way: Use the Microsoft Store to Update Automatically

The secret to effortless updates is getting Power BI Desktop from the Windows Microsoft Store instead of from the web. When installed this way, Power BI becomes just like any other app on your smartphone - it updates itself silently in the background without you having to do a thing.

The Store version is the exact same application as the one you download from the website. It has a full feature set, receives updates at the same time, and is the official version recommended for most individual users. The only difference is how it's packaged and managed by Windows.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing from the Microsoft Store

Making the switch is easy and only takes a few minutes. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Uninstall Your Current Version of Power BI Desktop (Important!)

To avoid conflicts or having two different versions of Power BI on your computer, you should uninstall the version you originally downloaded from the website. Don’t worry, this won’t delete any of your .pbix report files.

• Open the Start Menu on Windows.
• Type "Add or remove programs" and hit Enter.
• In the list of applications, find "Microsoft Power BI Desktop."
• Click on it, and then select Uninstall. Follow the prompts to remove it.

Step 2: Open the Microsoft Store

The Microsoft Store is built into all modern versions of Windows. You can find it easily:

• Click the Start Menu.
• Type "Microsoft Store" and open the application.

If you're at a company with strict IT policies, you may find the store is disabled. If so, have a chat with your IT department or, unfortunately, you'll have to stick with manual updates.

Step 3: Find and Install Power BI Desktop

Once you are in the store, use the search bar at the top.

• In the search bar, type "Power BI Desktop."
• Select the official app from the search results (it will be from "Microsoft Corporation").
• Click the Get or Install button. The app will download and install automatically.

Step 4: Confirm Automatic Updates Are Enabled

For most people, automatic app updates are enabled by default in the Microsoft Store. But it never hurts to double-check.

• In the Microsoft Store app, click on your profile and then Settings.
• Look for a toggle switch that says App updates or "Update apps automatically."
• Make sure this switch is turned On.

And you're done! From now on, whenever Microsoft releases a new version of Power BI, the Store will automatically download and install it for you in the background. You'll always have the latest and greatest features without ever having to think about it again.

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How to Check Your Power BI Desktop Version

If you ever want to confirm what version you're on, it's simple. Whether you installed from the web or the Microsoft Store, the process is the same inside the app.

1. Open Power BI Desktop.
2. Go to the File menu in the top-left corner.
3. Click on About from the left-hand menu.

A window will pop up showing the detailed version number, architecture (64-bit or 32-bit), and the release date (e.g., October 2023). This is great for checking if your automatic update has already been applied for the current month.

What About Larger Organizations?

If you're part of a big company, your experience might be a little different. Many IT departments control software installations to ensure security and consistency across the organization. In these cases, they often use tools like Microsoft Intune or System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) to "push" updates to all company computers automatically.

If you can't install software yourself or the Microsoft Store is blocked, it's likely your IT team already has a plan for managing updates. If you think your version is out of date, submitting a ticket to your internal help desk is the best course of action. The strategy outlined in this article is primarily for individual professionals, small businesses, and agencies who manage their own software.

Troubleshooting Common Scenarios

Even with a straightforward process, you can run into a few hurdles. Here are solutions to the most common ones.

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"My update isn't happening automatically."

Sometimes, the Microsoft Store update cycle can take a day or two to roll out to everyone. If you've heard a new version of Power BI is available but yours hasn't updated yet, you can give it a little push.

• Open the Microsoft Store app.
• Click on the Library icon (it looks like three books) in the bottom-left menu.
• On the Library page, click the Get updates button in the top right.

This will force the Store to check for all available app updates, including Power BI Desktop, and start the downloads immediately.

"There are two Power BI apps on my computer."

This almost always happens when you install the Microsoft Store version without first uninstalling the manually downloaded .exe version. While it might appear to work, it can create confusion and issues down the line with which application opens your report files. The solution is simple: go to "Add or remove programs" and uninstall the one that doesn't show the Microsoft Store icon next to it.

Final Thoughts

Automating your Power BI Desktop updates by switching to the Microsoft Store version is one of those small changes that saves you time and mental energy every month. It ensures you always have access to the latest features and bug fixes, allowing you to focus on what matters: building insightful reports.

Automating software updates is a great first step, but the real time-sink in data analysis is often the manual process of building reports in the first place. At Graphed, we've taken this idea of effortless analytics even further. Instead of wrestling with BI tools that have a steep learning curve, we let you connect all your data sources - like Google Analytics, Shopify, and your CRM - and then simply ask for the dashboards and reports you need in plain English. There’s no complex setup or training required, if you can describe the report you want, you can get it in seconds. To see how easy data analysis can be, try Graphed and ask your data a question.