How to Record Data in Power BI

George Apostolov
Updated 05 Oct 2026
- ▣ Power BI

How to Record Data in Power BI: step-by-step guide

Let's start by opening Power BI Desktop and clicking on 'Blank report' to begin recording data.
Choose 'Import data from Excel' as your data source for recording the information you need.
Navigate to your .xlsx file location, select it, and click 'Open' to access the data.
Power BI will display all tables/sheets in your file. Simply check the boxes next to the ones you want to record in your report.
Click 'Load' to bring your selected data into Power BI.
Your Excel data is now recorded in your Power BI model and ready for you to create visualizations with it.

Quick answer: To record data in Power BI Desktop, open a blank report, import data from an Excel file, select the desired tables and sheets, and click Load to bring the information into your model for creating visualizations.

About this Power BI tutorial

Import Excel spreadsheets into your Power BI model by selecting your file, choosing specific tables, and loading the data for report creation. This guide shows how to record Data in Power BI in 6 steps, starting with "Let's start by opening Power BI Desktop and clicking on 'Blank report' to begin recordi..." and finishing with "Your Excel data is now recorded in your Power BI model and ready for you to create visu...". The interactive demo above is a click-through copy of the real Power BI interface, so you can rehearse each step before doing it in your own account.