Forum Discussion
The permissions granted to user '' are insufficient
I installed Power BI Report Server – SQL Server 2025 Standard, product version 15.0.1121.109, on the primary node only of a Windows Failover Cluster SQL Server 2025 (no AG) – OS Windows Server 2025 Datacenter.
I configured the SMTP settings in the Email Settings section of the Report Server Wizard.
I created a shared PostgreSQL data source that connects using a username and password, and then created a paginated report using that data source.
The permissions for my AD user on the Report Server folder containing both the data source and report are all: Browser, Content Manager, My Reports, Publisher, Report Builder.
I created an Email distribution subscription for my report, but when I run the subscription either manually or on schedule I get the below error:
Failure sending mail: The permissions granted to user '' are insufficient for performing this operation.Mail will not be resent.
Hi eduardserediuc
error message “Failure sending mail: The permissions granted to user '' are insufficient for performing this operation” usually doesn’t mean your folder permissions are wrong. Subscriptions don’t run under your interactive AD account — they run under the Report Server service account (or execution account if configured). If that account can’t authenticate to your SMTP server, the subscription fails with this message.Here are some key things to check:
- Double‑check the server name, sender address, and authentication in Report Server Configuration Manager. Test sending mail outside of Report Server with the same account.
- Make sure the Windows account running Power BI Report Server has rights to relay through your SMTP server.
- If you’ve configured one, confirm it’s valid and has access. If not needed, leave it blank.
- Verify the AD user who created the subscription is still active and not disabled. Try recreating the subscription under a different account if needed.
- Check the ReportServerService*.log files for more detail on the failure (missing credentials, denied relay, etc.)
Useful Links: Email delivery in Reporting Services - SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) | Microsoft Learn
4 Replies
v-aatheequeCommunity Support
Hi eduardserediuc
error message “Failure sending mail: The permissions granted to user '' are insufficient for performing this operation” usually doesn’t mean your folder permissions are wrong. Subscriptions don’t run under your interactive AD account — they run under the Report Server service account (or execution account if configured). If that account can’t authenticate to your SMTP server, the subscription fails with this message.Here are some key things to check:
- Double‑check the server name, sender address, and authentication in Report Server Configuration Manager. Test sending mail outside of Report Server with the same account.
- Make sure the Windows account running Power BI Report Server has rights to relay through your SMTP server.
- If you’ve configured one, confirm it’s valid and has access. If not needed, leave it blank.
- Verify the AD user who created the subscription is still active and not disabled. Try recreating the subscription under a different account if needed.
- Check the ReportServerService*.log files for more detail on the failure (missing credentials, denied relay, etc.)
Useful Links: Email delivery in Reporting Services - SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) | Microsoft Learn
- v-aatheeque
Have you had a chance to look through the responses shared earlier? If anything is still unclear, we’ll be happy to provide additional support.
- v-aatheeque
Following up to confirm if the earlier responses addressed your query. If not, please share your questions and we’ll assist further.
- maruthisp
Super User
Can you check below steps:
Step 1: Verify the user account
First, confirm which Windows account is being used to access Power BI Report Server.
Step 2: Check folder-level permissions
Step 3: Check report-level permissions
Step 4: Check shared datasets and linked reports
Step 5: Check site-level permissions
Step 6: Test the report again
After updating the permissions:
Ask the affected user to close the browser.
Open a new browser session.
Access Power BI Report Server using the same Windows account.
Navigate to the affected report.
Check whether the report opens successfully.
Best Regards,Maruthi
