How to Set Up RLS in Power BI
- George Apostolov
How to Set Up RLS in Power BI: step-by-step guide
Start by navigating to the 'Modeling' tab in the Power BI Desktop ribbon.
Now, select 'Manage Roles' to begin setting up your Row-Level Security.
In the Manage Roles dialog box, click the '+ New' button to create a security role.
Give your role a descriptive name that clearly indicates its purpose.
Select the table that contains the data you want to filter.
Click 'Switch to DAX editor' to create more advanced filtering conditions using DAX expressions.
Enter your DAX filter expression.
Click 'Save' to apply your RLS role configuration to the model.
A confirmation pops up once you have successfully implemented Row-Level Security in Power BI.
RLS filters data based on user identity. Users assigned to this role will only see data that meets your filter criteria.
Quick answer: To set up Row-Level Security in Power BI Desktop, navigate to the Modeling tab and select Manage Roles. Create a new role, select the target table, and use the DAX editor to enter your filter expression. Finally, save the configuration to apply the security role and filter data based on user identity.
About this Power BI tutorial
Configure Row-Level Security in Power BI by creating roles and applying DAX filter expressions to restrict data access by user identity. This guide shows how to set Up RLS in Power BI in 10 steps, starting with "Start by navigating to the 'Modeling' tab in the Power BI Desktop ribbon" and finishing with "RLS filters data based on user identity. Users assigned to this role will only see data...". 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps does it take to set Up RLS in Power BI?
10 steps. Each one is listed in order above, and the demo highlights exactly where to click.
Can I try it without changing my own account?
Yes. Clicking through the demo doesn't touch your Power BI data or settings. Once you know the flow, repeat it in your own workspace.
This tutorial is filed under Power BI. Related guides: How to Set Up Scheduled Refreshes in Power BI, How to Share a Power BI Dashboard with External Users and How to Share a Power BI Report with External Users. Last reviewed 05 Oct 2026.
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