BUG: "Formatting options are unavailable for this visual"

[jaykayelsemicol]

In Power BI Desktop I am running into an issue where I cannot format visualizations that are part of a group. When selecting the visualization in the group and navigating to the Format visual tab, no options are available and it says "Formatting options are unavailable for this visual". The only workaround is to ungroup the visualization, make formating changes, then re-group it with the other visualizations. This has been happening for the past week or two. Sometimes it will let me format visualizations in a group, but most of the time it shows the message below. 

[Butterfly25]

I'm having the same issue. I was already wondering if it was only happening to me or if others also experienced this issue. It happens indeed when you've grouped a few visuals. In my report I use bookmarks to choose which chart should be displayed. 
I also noticed that when this issue occurs, and you get the functionality back by switching pages or some of the other tricks mentioned earlier, not all the changes you make will be saved. After saving and closing the file, charts which I had moved were back in their original positions and sizes, and color changes were not saved as well. 
For example, the one now displayed as burgundy, was dark blue in PowerBI desktop when I published the report...

[chrisparker3268]

Yes, this is truly annoying. It is one thing to lack new functionality but this is a quite heavily used and somewhat basic function that is almost impossible to fix if your report has many selections, bookmarks, and buttons on one page.

[Anonymous]

Also experiencing it:

Notice: the reports are not grouped.
I'm using the "blue" Power BI (Microsoft Store's), Version 2.118.621.0 64-bit (June 2023).

[jack555]

I have the same problem. if i duplicate the viz then formatting option avialble for both. when one was deleted, no formatting option available. June 2023 version.

[TERRY_HUGHES]

Also have this issue
Version: 2.118.621.0 64-bit (June 2023)

It's happening with buttons and shapes within groups. I set up all of my bookmark layers and finalize by attaching the bookmarks to button actions, then test to ensure they are displaying proper (tend to build multi-tiered submenu bookmarks.

Each time try to edit the button within the group I get the "Formatting Options are unavailable for this visual". If I move the button outside of the group it's iffy if I get it. If I create a new button, set the action, and then move it into the group it works as expected, which works but not with my workflow.

[skcary2]

I had this issue as well but it was happening on a single visual. I was able to just hide the visual in the selection pane, then unhide it, and the formatting options were then available. 

[rbartles111213]

This is to say the least... ANNOYING .... Sometimes if I click save, the options show, if I close the file and go back in it works once or twice... I completely uninstalled PBI Desktop... installed again and nope still the same as of 7/13/2023. 

My work performance is dragging due to this.... Help us Microsoft!

Windows x64 machine, 16GB Ram, etc. 

[Wilhelm]

Same here. It seems to be random, and it might just be my imagination, but I've noticed it more often with copied objects. (I have renamed them.)

Will make a video next time it happens and share.

Using latest version from Store.

[burakdemirtas]

Happened today to me on "shape map". I was not using any grouping at all!  I don't know if it's really related but when I changed the name of the 2 maps in the "selection" pane, it happened. I only could have solved by duplicating the maps but it's quite annoying and definetly a bug.

Version: 2.119.666.0 64-bit (July 2023)

[pabb]

Same problem... hiding and unhiding as @JulianPBI suggested works temporarily.