Default selection in slicer should be based on RLS

[KeshaShah11]

Hello,

When we publish a Power BI report to the Service, we set a default selection in a single-selection slicer. However, after applying RLS, that default selection still appears—even if the user doesn’t have access to it.

Is there a way for the slicer selection to update dynamically based on the user's role?

Thank you

[v-echaithra]

Hi @KeshaShah11 ,

We’d like to follow up regarding the recent concern. Kindly confirm whether the issue has been resolved, or if further assistance is still required. We are available to support you and are committed to helping you reach a resolution.

Best Regards,
Chaithra E.

[v-echaithra]

Hi @KeshaShah11 ,

I hope the information provided is helpful. I wanted to check whether you were able to resolve the issue with the provided solutions. Please let us know if you need any further assistance.

Thank you.

[v-echaithra]

Hi @KeshaShah11 ,

When building Power BI reports with Row-Level Security (RLS), one of the common challenges is ensuring that slicers automatically reflect user specific data access. More specifically, we want a slicer to automatically select the default value relevant to the logged-in user based on their role.

Do not pre select a slicer value before publishing, let Power BI decide dynamically. Any selection made in Power BI Desktop or via bookmarks is static and does not respond to RLS.

Go to the slicer settings and enable Single Select. This ensures that Power BI will pick one value, if only one is available to the user. If RLS filters the data to only one visible value, Power BI will auto-select it.
This is not guaranteed if the user has access to multiple values.

Ensure the slicer is using a column from a table that is directly filtered by RLS.
For example: If you apply RLS to UserTable, which is connected to FactTable via Department, and your slicer uses FactTable[Department], the slicer values will be automatically limited to what the user has access to.

To avoid Power BI Service remembering an old/invalid selection, go to Power BI Service > Open the Report
Click on Settings > Report settings
Uncheck “Persistent filters”, “Allow users to personalize visuals”. This ensures that each time a user opens the report, the slicer reflects their current RLS access only.

If this dynamic slicer behavior is critical for your solution, please submit a new idea or upvote existing one as suggested by TomMartens.

Hope this helps.
Chaithra E.

[danextian]

Hi @KeshaShah11 

The selected value of a slicer uses the Group by Column Property which is the same column by default or any other column. However, this property does not respond to RLS so whatever was selected when the report becomes the default.

[TomMartens · Accepted solution]

Hey @KeshaShah11 ,

Unfortunately, this is not possible because the "Slicer" visual does not know a default value. Next, a selection of a slicer value is not removed, even if the user opening the report is not "allowed" to see the automatically selected value (because of 'Single select' enabled).

I recommend that you create a new idea here: https://ideas.powerbi.com

or upvote an already existing idea.

Regards,
Tom