How to create new semantic model based on an existing semantic model

[minimalist]

Hi,

I have a semantic model and it works but want to create a new semantic model, using the existing model as a starting point. It seems there is no option to "duplicate" or "copy" a semantic model.  

I did a search and found a post which advised that I saved a .pbix locally, and re-import as a new report. I did this but when I made changes to the semantic model, the imported report was still connected to the original semantic model.

Please advise if there is a way to do this or perhaps share a link to documention or another resource which can assist me.

Thanks in advance.

Garreth

[v-sgandrathi]

Hi @minimalist,

Thank you for Reaching us. I understand you want to create a new semantic model based on your existing one, but have found that saving and re-importing the .pbix file keeps the report linked to the original semantic model. Your explanation is helpful in clarifying the situation.

Currently, Power BI does not have a direct option to duplicate or copy semantic models. If your .pbix file uses a live connection, saving and re-importing it will still connect the report to the original model.

To create an independent semantic model, we suggest the following steps:

Avoid using a live connection in your new .pbix file. Use Import mode to add your data sources directly.
Rebuild the model by recreating your measures, calculated columns, and relationships within Power BI Desktop. This will make sure your new report has its own semantic model separate from the original.

For reference, you can read these Microsoft documentation links:
Introduction to Semantic Models Across Workspaces - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

Thank you.

[minimalist]

If a semantic model cannot be duplicated, is it possible to duplicate a Workspace? I am looking for a way to do it but so far I have not found it.

[v-sgandrathi]

Hi @minimalist,

Thank you for your follow-up. I understand your goal to avoid manually rebuilding your semantic model. 

Currently, Power BI does not provide a built-in feature to duplicate an entire workspace with all its contents, including reports and semantic models. 

There are some alternatives you might consider:

If you have Power BI Pro or Premium, deployment pipelines can help move content between workspaces while keeping the structure intact, though this is not a direct duplication. If you need a fully independent copy of your semantic model, you can download the PBIX file, open it in Power BI Desktop, make a minor modification (such as renaming a table or measure), and then publish it to a different workspace with a new name. This method creates a new semantic model that is separate from the original. While it is not an automated process, it provides a practical solution. 

For additional details, please refer to Microsoft’s documentation:
Overview of Fabric deployment pipelines - Microsoft Fabric | Microsoft Learn
Semantic models in the Power BI service - Power BI | Microsoft Learn
Introduction to Semantic Models Across Workspaces - Power BI | Microsoft Learn
Use semantic model version history (preview) - Power BI | Microsoft Learn
Edit data models in the Power BI service (preview) - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

Thank you.

[minimalist]

Thank you for the response which validates my analysis of the problem and the lack of a suitable solution.

Rebuilding the model, relationships and measures is precisely what I am trying to avoid.