403 Forbidden Error – Power BI Desktop Fails to Access Dataflow on Single User Device Only

[Suchakree]

We are encountering a 403 Forbidden error for a single user when accessing a Power BI Dataflow using Power BI Desktop on their own laptop.

🔍 Issue Summary:
The error message is:
“Downstream service call failed with status code 403”

The issue occurs only on the user's Power BI Desktop (on their laptop)

The same user can access the same dataflow from:

✅ Excel

✅ Power BI Service

✅ Power BI Desktop on another device

We also tested another user account on the same laptop, and it worked successfully.

🧪 Troubleshooting Done So Far:
✅ User has "Contributor" access to the workspace

✅ Verified the same organizational account is used across all apps

✅ Cleared cached credentials in Power BI Desktop (File > Options and Settings > Data source settings)

✅ Restarted Power BI Desktop

❌ Error persists only on user's Power BI Desktop on one device

🎯 Request:
We need help identifying the root cause of this 403 error that occurs only in Power BI Desktop for one user on one device, while all other access paths and devices work fine.

Please advise any deeper diagnostics, logs, or steps to resolve this.

[v-sdhruv]

Hi @Suchakree ,

I hope you were successfully able to raise the support ticket.
If you need any assistance, let us know.
Thank you.

[v-sdhruv]

Hi @Suchakree ,

If none of the approches worked, you can raise a support ticket if you have a PRO license - 
Microsoft Fabric service status
Or post it as an issues- https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Issues/idb-p/Issues

Hope this helps!

[amitchandak]

@Suchakree , make sure the latest windows updates are installed. If not, please install 

Use latest version of Power Bi Desktop 

Make sure user is able to connect to power bi service using that desktop 

Make sure user is using correct login on Power BI Desktop, User have access to dataflow using that login 
Also make sure to permission at Dataflow for that user 

[Suchakree]

Thanks, @amitchandak , for your suggestions.

Windows is up to date
Power BI Desktop is the latest version
User is signed in with the correct organizational account
User has access to the dataflow (confirmed via Excel and Power BI Service)
User can also connect to the Power BI Service from their Power BI Desktop

Despite all of that, the issue still persists only on Power BI Desktop on their own laptop — other users can connect from the same laptop, and this user can connect from other devices.

Let me know if there's anything deeper we can check on the local setup.