Get certified for free when you join Fabric Data Days 2026 and dive into Fabric, Power BI, SQL, AI, and other essential data skills.
Join nowJuly 7 - July 17 | Round 2 of the Power BI Dataviz World Championships. Don't miss your chance! Learn more
Hi,
I am using the Desktop version. I am unable to connect to a Microsoft SQL Server. I do not get any error message. It just keeps spinning and spinning and never connects. Sometimes I get to the the second screen where it says to use windows credentials but then that just keeps loading. I am able to connect to this SQL sever with Tableau and Qlik but am having trouble with Power BI.
Any suggestions?
Solved! Go to Solution.
On your login screen for database engine click on 'Options'
Then click on "connection properties" tab and uncheck "Encrypt connection".
Hope this helps.
Hi @sstar118
Can you confirm that you have got the correct drivers installed to connect to SQL Server for Power BI?
I stand to be corrected but I do recall having to install SQL Server Management Studio.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/download-sql-server-management-studio-ssms
Hi @GilbertQ
I let it connect for about 20 minutes and then got a message that it needed to be an encrypted connection, once I hit okay I was able to connect. Is there anyway to kick it off an an ecrypted connection so that it does not take so long to connect in the future.
Thanks!
thank you all. My issue has been resolved
On your login screen for database engine click on 'Options'
Then click on "connection properties" tab and uncheck "Encrypt connection".
Hope this helps.
Join us in Barcelona for FabCon and SQLCon, the Fabric, Power BI, SQL, and AI community event. Save €200 with code FABCMTY200.
Join Data Days 2026: 60 days of free live/on-demand sessions, challenges, study groups, and certification opportunities.
| User | Count |
|---|---|
| 29 | |
| 27 | |
| 26 | |
| 23 | |
| 16 |
| User | Count |
|---|---|
| 53 | |
| 46 | |
| 38 | |
| 30 | |
| 21 |