How to copy credentials to a new computer

[farbodfbr]

I copied the user.zip to a different computer which runs the same pbix file, so they can refresh the data.

I don't want to share the actual credentials values with other users.

Still it asks for the database credentials for resfreshing the data.

What do I miss here?

Database: sql server

Power BI desktop : Version: 2.82.5858.1161 64-bit (June 2020)

[MFelix]

Hi @farbodfbr ,

If you are using the PBI desktop version the credentials are not saved on the PBIX file but on the machine where the files is saved so you need to enter the credentials on the other computer the first time you run the query.

If you need to have the refreshed information you need to go to the computer and enter the credentials (the first time) or use share the datasource trough the service using a dataset or a dataflow and you can then schedulle refresh.

[lbendlin]

@MFelix   Note that @farbodfbr was referring to the User.ZIP file - that's in the Power BI Desktop application folder and holds the credential details. But for (hopefully good) reasons copying that file to a new machine will not transfer the credentials.

[MFelix]

@lbendlin  and @farbodfbr ,

I'm not an IT guy but I assume this file is locally setup so only by making a copy + paste will not work on another machine this would be a huge gap in security because people would have access to the credentials only by having that file.

If you don't want the user to get access to the password you can go and make the input yourself, or using the the service and a gateway to create an schedulle refresh so your user would not need to have access to the password but only to the workspace.