Forum Discussion
Impactful IndividualPreview Features - Databricks
what is the purpose of below option, when i click on learn more, provide me databricks connector information and other parameters
Hi,
The "Use legacy Databricks connector implementation" option allows Power BI to use the older Databricks connector implementation based on the Simba Spark ODBC driver.
Microsoft is transitioning to a newer implementation based on Arrow Database Connectivity (ADBC), which is designed to provide more efficient data transfer, particularly for larger datasets.
The legacy option is mainly intended for backward compatibility, especially if you experience issues with the newer implementation.
For new connections, the ADBC implementation is generally recommended.
You can also explicitly select ADBC in Power Query M by specifying Implementation="2.0" in the connector options.
For more information, see Microsoft's documentation:
- If this post helps, then please consider Accepting it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.
5 Replies
- Ritaf1983
Super User
Hi,
The "Use legacy Databricks connector implementation" option allows Power BI to use the older Databricks connector implementation based on the Simba Spark ODBC driver.
Microsoft is transitioning to a newer implementation based on Arrow Database Connectivity (ADBC), which is designed to provide more efficient data transfer, particularly for larger datasets.
The legacy option is mainly intended for backward compatibility, especially if you experience issues with the newer implementation.
For new connections, the ADBC implementation is generally recommended.
You can also explicitly select ADBC in Power Query M by specifying Implementation="2.0" in the connector options.
For more information, see Microsoft's documentation:
- If this post helps, then please consider Accepting it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.
Murtaza_GhafoorHi @powerbiexpert22,
When you click learn more, the link will take you the Microsoft official documentation website, that will explain the feature in detail.
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v-saisrao-msftCommunity Support
Hi powerbiexpert22,
Have you had a chance to review the solution shared by Murtaza_Ghafoor Ritaf1983? If the issue persists, feel free to reply so we can help further.
Thank you.
- v-saisrao-msft
Hi powerbiexpert22,
Checking in to see if your issue has been resolved. let us know if you still need any assistance.
Thank you.
- ShivekMaharaj
Community Champion
Hi powerbiexpert22,
That option is mainly a backward-compatibility switch.
Microsoft is transitioning the Power BI Databricks connectors from the legacy embedded ODBC driver to the newer ADBC implementation.
For Azure Databricks, new connections have already been using ADBC by default since February 2026, and for the Databricks connector the ADBC implementation reached GA on October 15, 2026.
Microsoft documents the transition here: Transition from ODBC to ADBC drivers
So in practice:
Use legacy Databricks connector implementation = checked → use the older ODBC-based implementation Unchecked → allow the newer/default ADBC implementationYou can also control it per connection in Power Query.
For ADBC:
Implementation="2.0"Microsoft documents that in the Databricks connector guidance.
I would therefore leave the legacy option disabled for new development unless you have an existing report that behaves differently with the new implementation and you need a temporary compatibility fallback.
The newer ADBC path is the direction Microsoft and Databricks are moving toward, so I would treat the legacy option as a troubleshooting/migration aid rather than the preferred long-term setting.
AI-assisted drafting: AI was used to help structure and phrase this response. I reviewed and validated the technical content before posting.
