Forum Discussion
PBI Desktop LOGIN
Hello,
i am struggling from months with this power bi bug. Everytime i need to log in on power bi desktop with an account, pbi desktop starts to ask credential very often! When i open a pbi file (even if i already logged in), when i want to publish on service, sometimes it asks to log in about 3-4 times even without any action, just opening the file. And this occurs for every PBI file!
Now, for some account i need to verify the acces with microsoft authenticator and it is very frustrating!
I must log in and verify with my app 3,4 or 5 times for any file that i open!
I tried many suggetions (clean cache, settings, update pbi desktop), but no one has worked.
Is this a bug? I never experienced this before april/may 2024.
What happened??
Thank you for any answer.
Best,
G.
3 Replies
This repeated login issue in Power BI Desktop, requiring multiple authentications even when no additional actions are taken, is a known frustration for some users, especially since it became more prevalent around April/May 2024. This could be related to changes in Power BI’s authentication mechanisms or a security update from Microsoft. Here are some potential workarounds and areas to investigate:
1. Update Power BI Desktop: Ensure you have the latest version of Power BI Desktop installed. Microsoft occasionally releases patches that address issues like this.
2. Disable MFA for Specific Applications (if allowed by your organization): While Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is essential for security, some organizations can set exceptions or create Conditional Access policies to reduce the need for repeated logins for trusted devices or applications.
3. Check Conditional Access Policies: Ask your IT admin to verify the Conditional Access policies in Azure AD. Sometimes, stricter policies can trigger frequent re-authentication, especially for apps like Power BI Desktop.
4. Clear Power BI Credentials: Go to `File > Options and Settings > Data Source Settings` in Power BI Desktop, and clear any stored credentials for data sources that are linked to your work account, as these credentials might conflict with the login session.
5. Configure Power BI Desktop Login Settings: Some users have found that adjusting login persistence settings in Azure AD or setting Power BI Desktop to run as an administrator helps reduce login prompts.
6. Consider the Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL): Microsoft has been transitioning to MSAL for handling authentication, which might cause issues during this shift. Ensure you’re using any updated guidelines or settings for MSAL if your organization has started using it.
If these steps don’t help, you may want to reach out to Microsoft support.
I hope the answer helps your queries, please leave a Kudos or mark as solution if it does.
ThanksHi G_CR_23
We have had a similar issue since Power BI/ Microsoft 365 authentification got integrated.
If your Power BI password and 365 don't match it gets confused and circles around.
I also use multiple different accounts PBI accounts and that clashes horribly with 365.
For the first issue we use remote desktops that reset their passwords nightly. After setting the new passwords we reauthorise the Shared Exprience on the computers.
The second issue occurs when Microsoft 365 decides to remember both accounts. Check under Work & School accounts that it only remembers one. To help prevent it in future I choose "Only on this app" when logging in to Power BI.
Good luck!
Hi, G_CR_23
Please try to disable these features, maybe it will work.
How to Get Your Question Answered Quickly
Best Regards
Yongkang Hua
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