Forum Discussion
Helper VPower BI setting? Shared folders
Hi, so we have a .pbix file on a sharepoint internal site. It looks at data in a folder on the site separate to where the .pbix file is as usual.
When my boss or I open the report the data source changes because its looking at our local onedrive synced copies.
I have tried pointing it to a sahrepoint folder but i get authentication issues yet i created the file and data foldr and we can both see it on the site.
I think what im asking is should i be connecting directly to the sharepoint folder not our local copies?
Im not sure if i change this in Power BI or sharepoint related?
Hi dommyw277,
For the SharePoint Folder connector, use the SharePoint site URL, not the URL of the Data_2026 folder.
For example, if your files are stored under:
https://company.sharepoint.com/sites/Finance/Shared Documents/Data_2026/
then connect Power BI to:
https://company.sharepoint.com/sites/Finance
Once connected, Power BI will list all files available on that site. In Power Query, simply filter the Folder Path column to keep only the files from the Data_2026 folder.
I would also recommend avoiding the local OneDrive-synced path altogether. If the PBIX points to a local folder, Power BI will resolve that path based on whoever opens the file, which is why you're seeing inconsistent behavior between your machine and your boss's.
By connecting directly to SharePoint, both of you will be using the same source, and when you publish to the Power BI Service, refreshes will work against the SharePoint location rather than somebody's local synced copy. This is generally the recommended setup for shared Power BI reports.
11 Replies
- Mauro89
Super User
Hi dommyw277,
if you connect from PBI Desktop to SharePoint I recommend always to connect to SharePoint online, not your local synced version. This makes authentication more seamless.
You should be able to change that if you go in the connection settings in your PBI report and adjust the SharePoint connector details.
Best regards!
- MohamedFowzan1
Hi dommyw277
Yes, I would definitely connect directly to SharePoint Online rather than the locally synced OneDrive folder.
In Power Query, I'd use SharePoint Folder and connect using the SharePoint site URL, then filter to the required folder/file from there. For authentication, use Organizational account.
One important point: simply changing the credentials may not be enough if the query is still pointing to the local folder. You may need to change the Source step in Power Query to the SharePoint connector.
Once that's done, both you and your boss should be connecting to the same SharePoint location rather than your individual synced folders.
dommyw277I get this error when trying to connect
We were unable to connect because this credential type isn't supported for this resource. Please choose another credential type. (Session ID: b0d9684d-1916-474e-a699-aa8f1355591e)
- ShahRukhSameer
Solution Sage
Hi dommyw277,
What’s happening is that when you open the PBIX locally, Power BI is resolving the folder path through your synced OneDrive copy, so the source changes depending on who opens it. That’s why you’re seeing inconsistent behavior.
If you want the dataset to refresh consistently in the service, you should connect directly to the SharePoint folder rather than the local synced copy. The local path only works on your machine, but the service can’t use it — it needs the SharePoint URL.
A few tips to get it working:
In Power BI Desktop, use Get Data → SharePoint Folder and paste the site URL (not the local path).
When prompted, choose Organizational Account and sign in with your work credentials. This avoids the authentication issues you mentioned.
Once connected, you’ll see all files in that folder. Apply filters to select the ones you need.
Publish the report. In the service, go to dataset settings → Data source credentials, and make sure it’s set to Organizational Account there too.
This way, both you and your boss will be pointing to the same SharePoint folder, and the refresh will work consistently in the service. The local synced copies won’t interfere anymore.
- dommyw277
In Power BI Desktop, use Get Data → SharePoint Folder and paste the site URL (not the local path).
So the file is one of several in that folder then theres a folder called Data_2026 , what link do i need to put please?
- ShahRukhSameer
Hi dommyw277,
For the SharePoint Folder connector, use the SharePoint site URL, not the URL of the Data_2026 folder.
For example, if your files are stored under:
https://company.sharepoint.com/sites/Finance/Shared Documents/Data_2026/
then connect Power BI to:
https://company.sharepoint.com/sites/Finance
Once connected, Power BI will list all files available on that site. In Power Query, simply filter the Folder Path column to keep only the files from the Data_2026 folder.
I would also recommend avoiding the local OneDrive-synced path altogether. If the PBIX points to a local folder, Power BI will resolve that path based on whoever opens the file, which is why you're seeing inconsistent behavior between your machine and your boss's.
By connecting directly to SharePoint, both of you will be using the same source, and when you publish to the Power BI Service, refreshes will work against the SharePoint location rather than somebody's local synced copy. This is generally the recommended setup for shared Power BI reports.
