Microsoft edge can't read and write to its data directory

[abinashphuel]

Whenever I open PowerBI Desktop with administrator right, I get the popup error message "Microsoft edge can't read and write to its data directory" as shown below. In addition, PowerBI desktop window in background turn gray.

Note: If I open it without administrator rights, it works fine.

[esnell]

when installing you may have installed as an admin on your computer vs your non-admin; if you let the install process open it then it opens as admin however your non-admin account is the context of the machine and therefore will not have rights to the admin home directory; you have to be logged in as the user you want to use to run it.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Hi @abinashphuel 

Power BI Desktop is engineered as a multiprocess architecture, and several of these processes communicate using Windows named pipes. There may be other processes that interfere with those named pipes. The most common reason for such interference is security, including situations where antivirus software or firewalls may block the pipes or redirect traffic to a specific port. Opening Power BI Desktop with administrator privilege may resolve that issue. If you can't open with administrator privilege, ask your administrator to determine which security rules are preventing named pipes from properly communicating. Then, add Power BI Desktop and its respective subprocesses to allowlists.

If you have more questions about not being able to open the desktop, you can refer to the link below. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/desktop-error-launching-desktop

Best Regard

Community Support Team _ Ailsa Tao

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

[Pragati11]

Hi @abinashphuel ,

Just curious to know why you are opening Power BI as an administrator?

You should be able to open it normally.

Thanks,

Pragati