When collaborating, we often send links through Microsoft Teams to help colleagues access Power BI reports, dashboards, and apps. However, the links all look the same making it harder for our colleagues to find and access the items they need.
We’re excited to announce that link previews for Power BI are coming to Microsoft Teams. Link previews help users know which item the link goes to. They provide rich information and actions to help colleagues find, open, and subscribe to the data they need to help make better decisions.
This capability has started rolling out. It may take several weeks for it to reach your Microsoft Teams environment.
Link previews for Power BI in Microsoft Teams
To start using link previews, open the item in the Power BI service and copy the link from the browser address bar. You can do this for reports, dashboards, or apps you have permission to view in the Power BI service.
Paste the link into the Microsoft Teams message box. Use a channel, chat, or group chat. Private channels and meeting chats aren’t supported. If you’re pasting for the first time, first sign in to allow the link preview service to access your account.
It may take a moment before the link is recognized. Use that time to type your message while the link preview is created.
The basic link preview shows a simplified view of the item information, such as its name, where its located, and a Power BI icon so users know you’re sending a link to data.
That’s already a big improvement. Reveal a richer preview by using the expand icon before you send your message.
The rich preview card offers more information, including the item description and action links to help users access the content quicker. The Open in Power BI button opens a browser directly pointing to the report. The Subscribe button enables users to stay up to date on the data.
The link preview card works with the copy paste visual capability and links to bookmarks, making sure the report opens exactly as you’d expect it. You can see what they look like together below.
Licensing and Permissions
To use the link previews, you’ll need a Power BI Pro license or the item should be published from a workspace that has Power BI Premium.
Sending a link doesn’t give the recipient permission to view the item. You’ll need to give permission beforehand using the share option in Power BI.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you how you’d like these experiences to evolve. Head over to https://ideas.powerbi.com and or drop a comment below.
Next steps
Learn more about link previews for Power BI in Microsoft Teams