Issue with URL Link Behavior Between PBI Desktop and PBI Service

[ashmitp869]

Hi All,

I have a PBI Desktop file that contains a URL link.
When clicking on the Web URL, it automatically downloads the PDF file instead of opening it in the browser.

In the PBI Desktop file, clicking on the Web URL directly downloads the PDF file.

However, after publishing to the PBI Service, the same behavior is not happening.
Instead, it opens a new browser tab with the URL, and I need to manually press Enter again to initiate the download.

Any suggestion.
Thanks

@ullassl1991 @v-saisrao-msft @pankajnamekar25 Any suggestion please

[Anonymous]

Hi @ashmitp869,

As we haven’t heard back from you, we wanted to kindly follow up to check if the solution provided for the issue worked? or Let us know if you need any further assistance?
If our response addressed, please mark it as Accept as solution and click Yes if you found it helpful.

Regards,
Vinay Pabbu

[Anonymous]

Hi @ashmitp869,

A similar issue has been addressed in the community. Please take a look at the thread below.
Is it possible to click on the link and the Pdf fi... - Microsoft Fabric Community

If the response resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accept as solution" and click "Yes" if you found it helpful.

Regards,
Vinay Pabbu

[DataNinja777]

Hi @ashmitp869 ,

The difference in behavior you are observing between Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service is due to how web browsers handle hyperlinks compared to local applications. In Power BI Desktop, clicking on the Web URL initiates an immediate download of the PDF file because the action is processed locally, where the environment typically trusts the link and treats it as a direct download request.

However, in Power BI Service, the action occurs within a web-based environment. When clicking the link, the browser opens it in a new tab and waits for further instruction. If the server hosting the PDF file does not explicitly direct the browser to download the file, the browser will default to attempting to display the file or will require the user to manually press Enter to proceed with the download.

The underlying cause of this behavior is that the web server where the documents are stored does not include a download directive in its response to the browser. Without this instruction, browsers do not automatically initiate a file download, leading to the need for an additional manual step in Power BI Service.

To properly resolve this issue, it would be necessary to update the server configuration so that it instructs browsers to immediately download the file rather than attempting to display it. This adjustment must be made on the server side and cannot be controlled directly through Power BI settings.

In summary, this issue stems from the server’s handling of the file request, not from a limitation within Power BI itself. Power BI simply passes the hyperlink to the browser; it is the server’s response that dictates the resulting behavior.

Best regards,

[ashmitp869]

Hi @DataNinja777 
Is it possible to provide some screenshot , what adjustment can be made on server side ?

[Ritaf1983 · Accepted solution]

Hi @ashmitp869 

This is expected behavior due to the way browsers handle URL clicks in Power BI Service.
Power BI Desktop handles file download differently because it's a local application, while Power BI Service runs in a web browser, and the browser decides whether to download or open based on the server's HTTP headers (especially Content-Disposition).
To fix this, you would need the server to serve the PDF with Content-Disposition: attachment, or alternatively, use a workaround like linking through a download page or a Power Automate flow.

If this post helps, then please consider Accepting it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly

[ashmitp869]

Hi @Ritaf1983 
Can you please provide me the steps and screenshot for this solution
To fix this, you would need the server to serve the PDF with Content-Disposition: attachment.
Thanks

[Ritaf1983]

Hi @ashmitp869 

Unfortunately, I can't provide that since it's not related to the Power BI ...