How to Turn On Row Level Security in Power BI
- George Apostolov
How to Turn On Row Level Security 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, like 'SalesTeamAccess' or 'RegionalManagers'.
Select the table that contains the data you want to filter. This is typically a dimension table with user or region identifiers.
Click 'Switch to DAX editor' to create more advanced filtering conditions using DAX expressions. This gives you greater flexibility in defining security rules.
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. Now you can test how it works!
RLS filters data based on user identity. Users assigned to this role will only see data that meets your filter criteria, keeping sensitive information secure.
Quick answer: To turn on Row-Level Security in Power BI Desktop, navigate to the Modeling tab, select Manage Roles, and create a new role. Choose the target table, switch to the DAX editor to enter your filter expression, save the configuration, and then test the setup to secure sensitive data.
About this Power BI tutorial
Secure sensitive data in Power BI by setting up security roles and applying custom DAX filter expressions to limit user access. This guide shows how to turn On Row Level Security 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 turn On Row Level Security 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 Turn On Usage Metrics in Power BI, How to Undo Power BI and How to Uninstall Power BI. Last reviewed 05 Oct 2026.
Create your first interactive demo in minutes
No credit card required • Start building today
