Using Copilot in PBI desktop or PBI Service - what can I do?

[XhevahirMehalla]

Hello - 

I need to use Copilot on PBI desktop and or PBI Service.

I have only Pro License.

What can I do?

Please help me:

1. If I but PPU can use Copilot on PBI desktop or Service? 
2. Do I have to buy fabric anyhow to use Copilot?
3. The current architecture is on Azure Synapse so I can't just move to Fabric just for PBI?

I there anyway that specific users but some copilot licenses and that License can be used within PBI desktop/Service? 

Please can someone advise me with confidence how my user can use Copilot for reporting purposes?

Thanks

Xhev

[MasonMA]

Hi, 

1. PPU alone does not grant access to Copilot in Power BI Service. To use Copilot, your workspace will need to be hosted on a Fabric capacity of F64 or higher, and the tenant must have Copilot enabled by an admin.

2. I'm assumming yes, you will need to purchase a Fabric capacity to use Copilot in Service. 

3. i dont think you need to migrate to Fabric to use Copilot. You can keep your Synapse-based data model, but publish the model to a workspace hosted on Fabric capacity.

[XhevahirMehalla]

Thanks Mason.

What I understand from this is that I have to buy Fabcric Capacity (what size F64 I don't know) just for for PBI.

Capacity F64 is very expensive - That's not possible for my client. I need to clarify this.

If I but Fabric Capacity then I don't need Pro or PPU license anymore.

Please can you say these things with confidence or just read somewhere. 

Please let me know asap as I need to plan for things.

Thanks

Xhev

[MasonMA]

Those are based on my own experiences lately and some other studies. My work place has been under a transition to Fabric and i had similar Copilot request just a few weeks ago. Before Fabric was enabled, Copilot was neither functioning in desktop nor in the workspace.. 

[v-achippa · Accepted solution]

Hi @XhevahirMehalla,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Fabric Community.

Thank you @MasonMA for the prompt response.

Copilot in power bi requires an eligible capacity, a Fabric capacity or Power BI Premium capacity with Copilot enabled. A PPU or Pro license alone will not enable Copilot for a workspace.

• You don’t have to move your data to Fabric, you can keep your Synapse models as they are and just publish the dataset to a workspace hosted on an eligible capacity. So to use Copilot in power bi, your workspace must be hosted on a Fabric or Premium capacity with Copilot enabled.

You don’t necessarily need F64 unless you want free users to also view reports without Pro/PPU. For smaller teams or pilot users, you can start with a smaller Fabric capacity (like F2–F32) that is enough to test Copilot features.

Buying Fabric capacity does not automatically remove the need for Pro/PPU, creators usually still need Pro or PPU to publish, but viewers on larger capacities (F64+) can access content without it.

Thanks and regards,

Anjan Kumar Chippa