What exactly is a preview feature?

[frithjof_v]

Hi, 

In Power BI desktop, there are approx. 30 preview features and approx. 20 of them are enabled by default. 

Meaning, if I don't do any changes to the Power BI desktop settings myself, these features are enabled and will likely get used and follow my reports into production environment.

Some of (most of?) the preview features are not labelled as preview features in the Power BI desktop user interface, they appear like any other features (e.g. the new card visual and the new button slicer).

Does Microsoft recommend me to use these preview features in production?

Or should I avoid using preview features in production.

Is there some documentation regarding what it means that a feature is in preview?

Are preview features safe to use? (Regarding data security).

Do preview features calculate / display metrics and KPI's correctly?

I will highly appreciate clarification on this, so I can understand when it is advisable to use preview features.

Thank you! 

[frithjof_v]

Thank you @Idrissshatila,

However it's not actually answering my questions in my post.

When a preview feature is enabled by default by Microsoft, does it mean it is recommended by Microsoft to use this feature in production or not?

If not, then I think it is strange that these features are enabled by default (not opt-in) and also there is no labelling in the user interface which tells me whether a feature is a preview feature or not.

Best regards, Frithjof 

[Idrissshatila]

@frithjof_v ,

yes they are safe to use and they display data correctly, it's just that is a new feature.

[frithjof_v]

Thank you @Idrissshatila,

Is this confirmed by Microsoft in any documentation, or how do you know?

[Idrissshatila]

@frithjof_v ,

you can wait for microsoft support to validate my info, i didn't find a documentation for this.

[Idrissshatila]

Hello @frithjof_v ,

A preview feature in Power BI is a newly introduced feature that is still in the testing phase. These features are made available to users so they can try them out before they are fully integrated and officially released as part of the main product. Preview features allow users to experiment with new functionalities and provide feedback to the development team, which helps in refining and improving the features based on real-world usage and user input.

Key Points about Preview Features in Power BI:

1. Early Access: Users get early access to new capabilities and enhancements.
2. Feedback Loop: Microsoft collects user feedback to make improvements before the general release.
3. Optional: Users can opt-in to use preview features. These features can be enabled or disabled in the Power BI settings.
4. Experimental: Because they are still in development, preview features might not be fully stable or might have limited functionality.
5. Documentation and Updates: Microsoft typically provides documentation and updates on these features, highlighting known issues and usage scenarios.