Semantic Model Write permission and visibility in PowerBI Service

[liuytrewrst]

Hi,

We would like to provide the ability for a priveleged BI Developer to edit a specific semantic model in a workspace.  We have other semantic models in this workspace, but would like to give Write access to a single model.

The priveleged BI Developer would not have any workspace permissions.

How would the priveleged BI Developer find this model in PowerBI service? 

[Murtaza_Ghafoor]

Isolate the model in a dedicated workspace:

• Move the specific semantic model to a separate workspace.

• Grant the BI developer Contributor or Member access only to that workspace.

• This enables full model editing while keeping other models protected.

Once access is granted, the developer can find the dataset/semantic model under:
Power BI Service → Data Hub → Semantic Models → Shared with me or via Get Data → Power BI Datasets in Power BI Desktop.

[v-kpoloju-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @liuytrewrst,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Fabric Community Forum. Also, thanks to @lbendlin, for those inputs on this thread.

I understand you would like to give a BI Developer Write access to a specific semantic model without granting them full workspace permissions and want to know how they can access that model in Power BI Service.

You can grant direct Write permission on a semantic model (dataset) without assigning workspace roles like Contributor or Member. However, please note that users without workspace access won’t see the workspace or model in their list so they will need a direct link to the semantic model or minimal workspace visibility (e.g., Viewer role).

In the workspace, select the semantic model → More options (…) → Manage permissions → + Add user → assign the BI Developer Write access.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/power-bi/connect-data/service-datasets-manage-access-permissions 

If the developer does not have workspace permissions, share the direct link to the semantic model, or temporarily assign them the Viewer role so they can locate it in the workspace.

For editing via XMLA endpoint or Power BI Desktop, ensure the workspace is Premium or Premium Per User (PPU) and XMLA endpoint is enabled.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/power-bi/connect-data/service-datasets-permissions 

For easier management, consider moving that specific semantic model to a dedicated workspace and assign the developer Contributor access there. This way, you can isolate the model while keeping the main workspace secure.

Refer these links:
1. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/power-bi/connect-data/service-datasets-build-permissions 
2. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/power-bi/connect-data/service-datasets-permissions 

Hope this clears it up. Let us know if you have any doubts regarding this. We will be happy to help.

Thank you for using the Microsoft Fabric Community Forum.

[lbendlin]

Not possible.  This setting is not restrictable to individual semantic models.

If this is important to you please consider voting for an existing idea or raising a new one at https://ideas.fabric.microsoft.com