Error connecting to SQL Server from Power BI Desktop

Here are a couple of steps to troubleshoot:

1. Check SQL Server Authentication Mode:

   • Ensure that your SQL Server is configured to allow both Windows Authentication and SQL Server Authentication.
   • You can verify this in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) by right-clicking the server, selecting Properties, and checking the “Security” section.

2. Verify User Permissions:

   • Confirm that the login you’re using has the necessary permissions to access the database.
   • In SSMS, navigate to the database, right-click, and choose “Properties.” Under “Permissions,” check if the login has the required access.

3. Test Connection Outside Power BI:

   • Use SSMS or another tool to test the connection directly to the SQL Server.
   • If you encounter the same issue, it might be related to SQL Server configuration or network settings.

4. Check Network Connectivity:

   • Ensure that the SQL Server is reachable from your machine.
   • Ping the server or try connecting using telnet to verify network connectivity.