PowerBi desktop modal dialogs in background, GUI unresponsive

[bhalicki]

PowerBi Desktop seems to have an issue with modal dialogs being displayed in the background (behind other windows), leaving the GUI unresponsive and the only option to restore the application is to ctrl+alt+delete.  This happens mostly with PowerQuery editor, when logging into PowerBi service (via the desktop GUI), and when performing data model refreshes.

I also have a report using a shared semantic model, requiring me to authenticate to PowerBi Service.  Sometimes I need to authenticate multiple times (3-4 times), each time it requests 2-factor authentication and clicking 'close' on the dialog just reopens the authentication window.  Very frustrating to say the least 🙂

[v-jtian-msft]

Hi,@bhalicki .Thank you for your feedback.
It is common for modal dialogs to be displayed behind other windows, causing Power BI Desktop to become unresponsive. It is not only for Power BI, but also for other programs.
Please try to adjust the display settings and modify your screen resolution to see if the problem can be solved.

And for the repeated authentication prompts and two-factor authentication issues.

Solved: Login loop - Issues with credentials in PowerBI De... - Microsoft Fabric Community

Update Power BI Desktop: Make sure you are using the latest version of Power BI Desktop. may solve your problem.
I hope my suggestions give you good ideas, if you have any more questions, please clarify in a follow-up reply.
Best Regards,
Carson Jian

[bhalicki]

Hi Carson, Thank you for your reply, very much appreciated. I am using Version: 2.138.1004.0 64-bit (November 2024) version and I note that the login loop issue appears to be resolved around 2022? I understand that modal dialog boxes will sometimes appear behind other windows, but they are appearing behind other windows inside PowerBi desktop itself, and the only solution is to ctrl+alt+delete sadly. Kind regards, Ben.

[v-jtian-msft]

Hi,@bhalicki .Thank you for your reply.
I agree with your reply, also for the duplicate login issue, it exists in some versions of Power BI and is generally an internal issue.(the software itself). So updating the version is usually the good way to go.

I hope my suggestions give you good ideas, if you have any more questions, please clarify in a follow-up reply.
Best Regards,
Carson Jian

[bhalicki]

Hi Carson, I have just updated to the latest version and confirm the login loop issue still persists. Is there a way to break the cycle? As soon as I open a report, it asks me to authenticate. I close the authentication window, and it reopens. If I do authenticate, it then asks me to do it again. MS Authenticator is also not working for my account, so I need to receive a code via SMS, and after three authentication attempts, it says I have received too many codes... so I cannot even open a report now!!! I run a business and charge by hour, MS is really killing my productivity. Kind regards, Ben.

[v-jtian-msft]

Hi,@bhalicki .
Please create a support ticket , as a way to get more help. Since these login problems are often internal, for now you can contact phone support to get the problem solved as quickly as possible!
The Link of Power BI Support:

Microsoft Fabric Support and Status | Microsoft Fabric

[bhalicki]

Hi guys, I am just raising a ticket for this. I apologise in advance if I sound a little peeved... it's because I am 🙂 There appears to be a MAJOR issue with multi-factor authentication (MFA), and the modal dialogs appearing behind the main window, without any way to bring them to the front. This only seems to have occured in recent updates and is happening in PowerBi Report Builder as well. To summarise: - I open a report and have to authenticate 3,4 or 5 times in a row using MFA. Each time I have to grab my phone, enter the code, enter my password, and repeat several times. - This is even more frustrating when I have multiple reports open, which I have opened a few minutes apart, and I then have to authenticate each one 3, 4 or 5 times. - Sometimes the dialog pops up in the background, without any way to bring it to the front. The only solution is to ctrl+alt+delete. I HAVE JUST LOST A DAYS WORK. I really really hope that your next release focuses solely on fixing issues. As a contractor, there are many Microsoft products I refuse to support or develop in, irrespective of how much they are paying. PowerBi is next on my hit list. Please fix your product. Thanks, Ben.

[pgpinay]

Hi, I installed the Feb 2025 version (latest I assume) of Power BI Desktop.

The modal dialog initially appeared when I clicked the Apply and Save button of the Power Query Editor. I re-installed, re-started, then upon loading of the application, the modal dialog already appeared. I have not done any connection to data source yet. I think this version is not functioning.

Can you help send the link for a "working lower version"? Thank you very much.