Forum Discussion
What is system storage?
Anonymous
I would suggest optimizing data models, specifically for that super large model:)
Several reasons why the semantic models got inflated in Power BI services, one of the major reasons would be:
Columnar Storage Expansion. Power BI Service converts your model into a highly optimized VertiPaq columnar database. While this format is compressed for query performance, metadata (dictionaries, hierarchies, relationships) can inflate storage by 2–3× compared to the desktop file.
There are some other reasons like Data Partitioning etc.Regarding how to reduce the size of your model, you would need to optimize them in desktop tool with a couple of measures below:
- Remove unused columns, hide unused tables.
- Use integer/date keys instead of strings.
- Avoid high-cardinality columns (e.g., free-text).
- Switch to DirectQuery for large tables if feasible.these are very general approaches from internet and I'd recommend you refer to SQLBI for detailed guidance and best practices.
https://www.sqlbi.com/articles/optimizing-high-cardinality-columns-in-vertipaq/
System storage in Power BI refers to temporary files, cache, and other data that Power BI stores locally to improve performance.These files help speed up report loading and interactions but can accumulate over time, potentially slowing down Power BI.
Does System Storage Affect Query Loading/Refreshing Time?
Yes, excessive system storage can impact:
Performance: A bloated cache can slow down Power BI Desktop when opening, refreshing, or interacting with reports.
Memory Usage: Cached data consumes RAM, leading to slower operations.
Refresh Issues: Corrupted cache files may cause refresh failures or errors.
How to clean up system storage in POwer Bi. Clear cache in Power Bi Desktop.
Go to File -> Options and Settings -> Options -> Global -> Data Load
Click "Clear Cache" to remove temporary query data.
Hope this will answer your question and help you to reduce system storage.