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Schigia
Advocate I
Advocate I

Export Data from Power BI to csv does not work

Hi All, 

from yesterday I cannot export data from my pbi reporting file to csv. Usually I've done it withour any problem.

What it is strange is that from some table I can, but from others not. When I run export data, it appears the window "working on it" but in some seconds it disappears and the usual window where I can save the file is not showed. This is not for all sheets/tables I have in the file.

 

Could you please help me in understanding how to solve it?

Thanks

Rgds

GS 

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
grazitti_sapna
Super User
Super User

Hi @Schigia 

Possible Causes & Solutions:

1. Export Restrictions on Visuals

Some visuals have export limitations based on their structure:

  • If a table contains too many rows (150,000+ for CSV export in Power BI Desktop), it might fail.
  • If you're trying to export data from a Matrix, Power BI may restrict detailed-level exports.

Solution: Try exporting from a simpler Table visual instead of a Matrix or other complex visuals.

2. Row-Level Security (RLS) or Permissions Issue

If your report has Row-Level Security (RLS) or specific permissions, you may not be allowed to export certain data.

Solution: Check your data source permissions or try exporting with a user that has full access.

3. Data Export is Disabled in Power BI Settings

Power BI Desktop might have export restrictions enabled.

Solution:

  • Go to File → Options and Settings → Options
  • Under Current File → Report settings, check if "Export Data" is enabled.

4. Corrupted Visual or File

If a specific table or sheet is causing the issue, the file might have a corruption.

Solution:

  • Try duplicating the table visual and export again.
  • Create a new report and connect to the same data source.
  • Export the data from the new report.

5. Power BI Version Issue

A Power BI update might have introduced a bug.

Solution:

  • Update Power BI Desktop to the latest version from the Microsoft Store or the official website.
  • If the issue started after an update, try rolling back to a previous version.

6. Data Volume Too Large

If you're dealing with very large datasets, Power BI might struggle to export them.

Solution:

  • Try filtering the table before exporting.
  • Use DAX measures to limit the data.

7. Software Conflicts

Some background processes may interfere with Power BI’s export functionality.

Solution:

  • Close unnecessary applications.
  • Restart Power BI and try again.

🌟 I hope this solution helps you unlock your Power BI potential! If you found it helpful, click 'Mark as Solution' to guide others toward the answers they need.
💡 Love the effort? Drop the kudos! Your appreciation fuels community spirit and innovation.
🎖 As a proud SuperUser and Microsoft Partner, we’re here to empower your data journey and the Power BI Community at large.
🔗 Curious to explore more? [Discover here].
Let’s keep building smarter solutions together!

View solution in original post

25 REPLIES 25
hildasteyn
Helper I
Helper I

Those who had the issue, try again. Mine is working today. Maybe there was an update of some sort over the weekend.

It seems to be working here again as well. Strange, the latest Power BI version is still from Feb 27th.

Yes, for us the export to csv (for large files) also works again 😅 tnx

Pdataman
New Member

I am having the same issue, I have a table I want to export that is ~30K rows and was able to export with no issues in the January release but in the Febuary release I either get the loading icon spinning then closing or Data Exceeds Limit.

marduino
Microsoft Employee
Microsoft Employee

Hello -
I've been experiencing issues with exporting tables from PBI for a couple weeks and I haven't been able to find a solution that works. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the app, as well as utilized a virtual desktop but the error remains. Has anyone found a solution that works?

Workarounds are:

1. Use an older version of Power BI desktop. 

2. Publish report to Power BI service and export from there.

hildasteyn
Helper I
Helper I

I am having the same issue since last week. The csv limit is 30,000 rows. My dataset is just over 17,000 rows. If I reduce the dataset through filtering, the export works fine. If I don't, it shows "working on it" for a second or two, and then power bi minimises without anything else happening. I am using power bi desktop. Please also note - I am the admin and no changes were made whatsover. This is a power bi report I have been using for months without issue. 

BrubakerM
Advocate I
Advocate I

FYI - When I went through reporting this to Microsoft, the recommended solutions said they are aware and working on this. 

Screenshot 2025-02-28 171702.png

TSHECKEL
Advocate II
Advocate II

We're experiencing this as well when exporting data from the desktop app. The "Working on it" window pops up for a second or two and then disappears. Version: 2.140.1205.0 64-bit (February 2025)

BrubakerM
Advocate I
Advocate I

We are getting reports from users having this issue. Started this week. Has always worked before. What hapens is after selecting export to CSV, the dialog box that normally pops up, asking where to save, doesn't pop up correctly. It comes up blank, sits for a while, then closes without doing anything.

ravsaint
Regular Visitor

Same here - 2 days ,but it desn't work in particular visualisation ( matrix data - rows, cols ) 

Vinnie
Helper I
Helper I

Facing the same issue:

 

https://community.fabric.microsoft.com/t5/Desktop/PBI-Desktop-crashes-when-exporting-data-from-table...

 

I do not see this problem as solved since it looks like it is a bug in the newer version. 

Leenrem
Advocate I
Advocate I

I have same problem. Started since the last Power BI update (feb 24th). Small exports work (about 5000 rows). But more rows not. When you try to download you see for a very short time a pop-up screen and after that nothing happens.... Is a update roll back possible?   

S_B_1246
Regular Visitor

I am having the same problem, when i filter the data it seems to work but when i dont the export loading screen just dissapears. The largest working export contains 5000 rows

grazitti_sapna
Super User
Super User

Hi @Schigia 

Possible Causes & Solutions:

1. Export Restrictions on Visuals

Some visuals have export limitations based on their structure:

  • If a table contains too many rows (150,000+ for CSV export in Power BI Desktop), it might fail.
  • If you're trying to export data from a Matrix, Power BI may restrict detailed-level exports.

Solution: Try exporting from a simpler Table visual instead of a Matrix or other complex visuals.

2. Row-Level Security (RLS) or Permissions Issue

If your report has Row-Level Security (RLS) or specific permissions, you may not be allowed to export certain data.

Solution: Check your data source permissions or try exporting with a user that has full access.

3. Data Export is Disabled in Power BI Settings

Power BI Desktop might have export restrictions enabled.

Solution:

  • Go to File → Options and Settings → Options
  • Under Current File → Report settings, check if "Export Data" is enabled.

4. Corrupted Visual or File

If a specific table or sheet is causing the issue, the file might have a corruption.

Solution:

  • Try duplicating the table visual and export again.
  • Create a new report and connect to the same data source.
  • Export the data from the new report.

5. Power BI Version Issue

A Power BI update might have introduced a bug.

Solution:

  • Update Power BI Desktop to the latest version from the Microsoft Store or the official website.
  • If the issue started after an update, try rolling back to a previous version.

6. Data Volume Too Large

If you're dealing with very large datasets, Power BI might struggle to export them.

Solution:

  • Try filtering the table before exporting.
  • Use DAX measures to limit the data.

7. Software Conflicts

Some background processes may interfere with Power BI’s export functionality.

Solution:

  • Close unnecessary applications.
  • Restart Power BI and try again.

🌟 I hope this solution helps you unlock your Power BI potential! If you found it helpful, click 'Mark as Solution' to guide others toward the answers they need.
💡 Love the effort? Drop the kudos! Your appreciation fuels community spirit and innovation.
🎖 As a proud SuperUser and Microsoft Partner, we’re here to empower your data journey and the Power BI Community at large.
🔗 Curious to explore more? [Discover here].
Let’s keep building smarter solutions together!

Same issue here.  Infuriating, because you can't download the January version (not that I can see, anyway).

Yeah. The Jan version was removed. Stuck. 

Nothing of the above option is working

 

This is a version issue for us.  We were able to fix it by rolling back to the old Jan version until the latest Feb version push and we can't roll it back for all our users as it auto updated and the old Jan version is removed from the PBI site.  

Half an hour earlier our admean fixed this for me by upgrading to Version: 2.140.1476.0 64-bit (February 2025)

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