Unable Authentication to Shared semantic models in Desktop

[jankonas]

Hello,

we were successfully sharing semantis models with external (guest) users inside of our network where Two-factor authentication (2FA) is not required. However, outside of our network the 2FA is required but Power BI Desktop doesn't trigger it, so if the external users go to the Semantic model connector and an External data tab they get an error: Unable to authenticate your credentials.

It is possible to send Power BI tenant URL that triggers the 2FA in PBI servise. However, it doesn’t propagate to Desktop and it is not working then.

Do you please know any recommended workarounds or official solutions?

Many thanks,

Jan 

Error:

[Anonymous]

Hi all, 
We're facing the exact same issue here. Anyone found a solution or workaround yet?
External sharing has worked before enabling 2FA, but after enabling we recieve the same error.  2FA does prompt in the power bi service, but not in desktop.

[jteeple]

We are experiencing the same issue.  User can directly log into the separate tenant successfully but when she tries to use the semantic model, she gets an authentication error.  Both tenants have MFA.  She authenticates against her tenant with 2FA but does not get the prompt for the external tenants MFA.  Any solutions to this?

[v-zhouwen-msft]

Hi @jankonas ,

Regarding your question, the B2B Semantic Model Sharing feature allows sharing with external users, who can access the semantic model in the tenant, as detailed in the following article.

Distribute content to external guest users with Microsoft Entra B2B - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

Share Power BI reports and dashboards with coworkers and others - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

[jankonas]

Hi @v-zhouwen-msft, the external users can access the tenant. The only problem is that we require Two-factor authentication (2FA) that the user can successfully set up but in Power BI Desktop the window to process it doesn't pop up. It looks like a bug.