When you first start using Power BI, it’s exciting to build dashboards and reports that turn raw data into something meaningful. But at some point, you’ll want to share your work with others in a way that’s simple, interactive, and accessible from anywhere.
That’s where publishing and embedding come in.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to take a report you’ve created in Power BI, publish it to the web, and embed it into a website. Whether you’re a student, a data analyst, or just someone exploring data tools, this process is an essential skill.
What is Power BI?
Power BI is a business intelligence tool developed by Microsoft that helps you analyze data and present it through interactive visuals like charts, graphs, and dashboards. Instead of static reports, Power BI lets users explore data by clicking, filtering, and drilling down into details.
You typically build reports in Power BI Desktop, then publish them to the Power BI Service, which is the online platform where your reports are hosted and shared.
Why Publish and Embed a Report?
Publishing your report allows you to:
Access it from anywhere
Share it with others easily
Collaborate with teams
Embedding takes it a step further by allowing you to display your report inside a website, blog, or portfolio. This is especially useful if you want to showcase your work or build data-driven applications.
Step 1: Create a Workspace
Before uploading your report, you need a workspace in Power BI Service. A workspace is like a container where your reports, dashboards, and datasets are stored.
Here’s how to create one:
Go to the Power BI Service in your browser
Sign in to your account
On the left sidebar, click on Workspaces
Click Create a workspace
Enter a name and click Save
Once created, your workspace will appear in the list and will be ready to use.
Screenshot idea: Show the workspace creation screen with the name field filled
Step 2: Publish Your Report from Power BI Desktop
Now that you have a workspace, the next step is to upload your report.
Open your report in Power BI Desktop
Click the Publish button in the top right corner
Select the workspace you created
Click Select
After a few seconds, your report will be uploaded.
To confirm:
Go back to Power BI Service
Open your workspace
You should see your report listed there
Screenshot idea: Publish button and success message
Step 3: Generate the Embed Code
Once your report is online, you can generate a code that allows it to be embedded into a website.
Open your report in Power BI Service
Click File
Select Embed report
Choose Publish to web (public)
Click Create embed code
Copy the iframe code provided
Important: This method makes your report publicly accessible. Anyone with the link can view it, so avoid using it for confidential or sensitive data.
Step 4: Embedding the Report on a Website
Once your report is published and you have generated the embed link in Power BI Service, the next step is to place it on a website.
In Power BI Service, open your report, click on File, then select Embed report, and choose Publish to web. If you haven’t done this before, you will be prompted to create an embed link. Once created, Power BI will give you a link that is used to display your report outside the platform.
To embed the report on a website, you need to use that link inside your website’s HTML editor. Most websites have a section where you can insert custom content, such as dashboards or videos. This is where the report goes.
If you are working with a simple website, you would place the embed link inside an embed container so that the report appears directly on the page. If you are using platforms like WordPress or Wix, you can use their built-in “embed” or “custom HTML” feature and paste the link there.
After adding the link, save your changes and open the page in a browser. Your Power BI report should now appear within the website, fully interactive. Users will be able to click on visuals, apply filters, and explore the data just like they would inside Power BI.
It’s always a good idea to test your page after embedding. Make sure the report loads correctly and fits well within the layout. You may need to adjust spacing or sizing depending on how your website is designed.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Make sure your visuals are clean and easy to understand before publishing
Use proper titles and labels so viewers can follow your report
Test your embedded report on different screen sizes
Avoid publishing sensitive data using public embed links
Final Thoughts
Publishing and embedding a Power BI report is one of the best ways to share your work with the world. It transforms your report from something that sits on your computer into something interactive that anyone can access online.
Once you get used to the process, it becomes very straightforward. Create a workspace, publish your report, generate the embed code, and place it on your website. That’s all it takes.
If you’re building a portfolio or working on data projects, this is a powerful way to present your work and stand out.
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