Hi @lademah
It is difficult to provide a precise solution without seeing the specific error message or the file itself. However, here is a checklist of the most common reasons for connection failures between Excel and Power BI:
File Status & Format
Close the File: Ensure the Excel file is completely closed and not being used by another application during the connection process.
Supported Extensions: Confirm the file is a standard .xlsx, .xls, or .csv.
Macros: If you are using an .xlsm file, try saving a copy as a standard .xlsx to see if the macros are causing the conflict.
Password Protection: Power BI does not support direct imports from password-protected Excel files. You must remove the protection first.
Data Structure
Format as Table: It is highly recommended to select your data in Excel and press Ctrl+T to define it as an official Table. Power BI identifies Tables more reliably than raw Worksheets.
Clean Headers: Ensure there are no duplicate or blank column headers within your data range.
Technical Environment
Bit Version Mismatch: Ensure your Power BI Desktop version (32-bit or 64-bit) matches your Microsoft Office installation. If they differ, you may need to install the Microsoft Access Database Engine.
File Path Length: Ensure the file path (including the file name) does not exceed 256 characters.
Cloud Storage: If the file is stored on OneDrive or SharePoint, using the local folder path can sometimes cause sync conflicts. Try using the Web connector with the file's direct URL instead.
If this post helps, then please consider Accepting it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly
Regards,
Rita Fainshtein | Microsoft MVP
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-fainshtein/
Blog : https://www.madeiradata.com/profile/ritaf/profile
