SQL Express Local Connection Issue

[DavidJLitttle]

Hi, i have SQL Express running and a DB created on it. I know the DB is accessible as both SMSS and my application that is populating the DB can both connect to it fine. But PowerBI for some reason cannot connect. The SQL Express Server is running locally so in Power BI i am entering the Database name as (LocalDB)\MSSQLLocalDB and im entering the database name as per what is lsited in SSMS but it fails to connect claiming the Server cannot be found or does not accept remote connections. Both of which i know are not true as i am succesfully connecting on other apps.

[v-piga-msft]

Hi @DavidJLitttle ,

Have you solved your problem?

If you have solved, please always accept the replies making sense as solution to your question so that people who may have the same question can get the solution directly.

If you still need help, please feel free to ask.

Best Regards,

Cherry

[v-piga-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @DavidJLitttle ,

Firstly, please check if you could use SQL Server Management Studio to connect to the remote SQL Server instance successfully? If it also fails, please follow the steps in this blog to troubleshoot this issue.

Please ensure that SSMS is installed on the same machine with Power BI Desktop.

If it success, you could try that don't type the database name as it is optional and connect it directly to check if it could connect successfully.

In addition, you could use “IP address, port” or “tcp:computername” as server name to connect to SQL Server in Power BI Desktop.

Best Regards,

Cherry