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longyan
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3 months ago
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Bug: Cannot delete newly created page in PBIP format — `activePageName` in pages.json not synced wit

**Product:** Power BI Desktop
**Version:** June 2026 update (latest)
**File Format:** PBIP (Power BI Project)

**Description:**

When working with a report saved in PBIP format, newly created pages cannot be deleted via the right-click context menu. The right-click menu on the latest page tab only shows three options (New Page, Duplicate Page, Show Page as Tooltip) — the "Delete Page" option is missing.

**Root Cause:**

The `activePageName` field in `pages.json` is set to the name of the newly created page upon creation, but is never updated when the user performs any of the following UI actions:
- Switching to a different page by clicking its tab
- Setting another page as the landing page via "Set as landing page" option
- Any other navigation or page interaction

Since Power BI Desktop treats the page referenced by `activePageName` as the active page and enforces a rule that the active page cannot be deleted, the "Delete Page" option is permanently missing from the right-click menu for whichever page is listed as `activePageName`.

**Reproduction Steps:**

1. Open or create a report in Power BI Desktop and save it in PBIP format.
2. Create a new blank page (e.g., "Page 2").
3. Right-click the new page's tab → observe that the context menu only has 3 options; "Delete Page" is absent.
4. Switch to another page or set another page as the landing page.
5. Right-click the new page's tab again → "Delete Page" is still missing.
6. Open `pages.json` in the PBIP project folder and observe that `activePageName` still points to the newly created page despite all UI interactions.
7. Create yet another new page (e.g., "Page 3") → now "Page 2" can be deleted, but "Page 3" cannot.

**Expected Behavior:**

- `activePageName` should be updated when the user switches to a different page or sets a landing page, so the previously active page becomes deletable.
- Alternatively, the "Delete Page" option should be available for any page that is not the only page in the report, regardless of the `activePageName` state.

**Workaround:**

Manually edit `pages.json` in the PBIP project folder to change `activePageName` to a different page name, then reopen the file. After this change, the previously "stuck" page can be deleted normally.

**Impact:**

This is a breaking UX issue for users working in PBIP format. It creates confusion and forces users to either create dummy pages or manually edit JSON files to perform basic page management operations.

  • Hello longyan ,

     

    I am using June 2026 version and I tried reproducing the scenario. 

     

    1. Created a new report and saved it as PBIP. (new PBIR enabled)

    2. Kept "Page 1" as landing page.

    3. Created a new blank page "Page 2", saved the file.

    4. Right clicked on page 2 tab, I am able see "delete" option.

    5. Did the same with "Page 3", I could see "delete"option. 

    Not sure if I missed any step here, please let me know

    In pages.json file both "activePageName" and "landingPageName" values are also looking  correct to me as per the changes I did. 

     

     

    If you are still seeing this issue may be you can try reinstalling power bi desktop, even after it is not solve the problem then report it here 
    https://community.fabric.microsoft.com/t5/Issues/idb-p/Issues

     

     

     

     

    Connect on LinkedIn

    read my blogs here: https://www.techietips.co.in/

     

     

     








    Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution!
    If I helped you, click on the Thumbs Up to give Kudos.

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3 Replies

  • Hello longyan ,

     

    I am using June 2026 version and I tried reproducing the scenario. 

     

    1. Created a new report and saved it as PBIP. (new PBIR enabled)

    2. Kept "Page 1" as landing page.

    3. Created a new blank page "Page 2", saved the file.

    4. Right clicked on page 2 tab, I am able see "delete" option.

    5. Did the same with "Page 3", I could see "delete"option. 

    Not sure if I missed any step here, please let me know

    In pages.json file both "activePageName" and "landingPageName" values are also looking  correct to me as per the changes I did. 

     

     

    If you are still seeing this issue may be you can try reinstalling power bi desktop, even after it is not solve the problem then report it here 
    https://community.fabric.microsoft.com/t5/Issues/idb-p/Issues

     

     

     

     

    Connect on LinkedIn

    read my blogs here: https://www.techietips.co.in/

     

     

     








    Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution!
    If I helped you, click on the Thumbs Up to give Kudos.

    Proud to be a Super User!


  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    Not applicable

    Hi longyan 

    Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Fabric Forum Community.

    tharunkumarRTK Thanks for the inputs.

    I hope the information provided by user was helpful. If you still have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the community.

     

    • Anonymous's avatar
      Anonymous
      Not applicable

      Hi longyan 

      Hope everything’s going smoothly on your end. I wanted to check if the issue got sorted. if you have any other issues please reach community.