How to Use Power BI with Excel
- George Apostolov
How to Use Power BI with Excel: step-by-step guide
Launch Power BI Desktop and click 'Blank report' to start fresh.
Click 'Get Data' in the Home tab, then select 'Excel' from the common data sources.
Navigate to your Excel file location, select it, then click 'Open'.
In the Navigator window, check the boxes next to the sheets or tables you want to import. You can preview the data on the right.
Click 'Load' to import the data directly.
Your Excel data now appears in the Fields pane. Drag and drop fields to create visualizations in your report canvas.
Quick answer: To use Power BI with Excel, launch Power BI Desktop and click Blank report. Click Get Data on the Home tab, select Excel, and open your file. Check the desired sheets or tables in the Navigator window and click Load. Finally, drag and drop fields from the Fields pane to create visualizations.
About this Excel tutorial
Import and visualize spreadsheet data in reports by connecting Power BI Desktop to your Excel files. This guide shows how to use Power BI with Excel in 6 steps, starting with "Launch Power BI Desktop and click 'Blank report' to start fresh" and finishing with "Your Excel data now appears in the Fields pane. Drag and drop fields to create visualiz...". The interactive demo above is a click-through copy of the real Excel interface, so you can rehearse each step before doing it in your own account.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps does it take to use Power BI with Excel?
6 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 Excel data or settings. Once you know the flow, repeat it in your own workspace.
This tutorial is filed under Excel and Power BI. Related guides: Excel AppSheet Integration, How to Add a Chart Style to the Microsoft Excel Diagram and How to Add a Checkmark in Microsoft Excel. Last reviewed 05 Oct 2026.
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