Error connection to Excel file on OneDrive

[gdenayer]

Hi,

I'm trying to buid a PowerBI dashboard, on a simple excel file on my Sharepoint(OneDrive).

I'm able to get through to the first steps, where powerquery asks to connect to the datasource. 

and I see this :

But after selection 'Create' i get the following error :

I tried with othe xls files, but this gives the same result.

Anyone has an idea ?

thx

G.

[v-echaithra]

Hi @gdenayer ,

Thank you for sharing your update and confirming that you dont have any issue. i request you to please accept your own post as the solution, this will help other community members who might face a similar issue.

Also would like to follow up to see if the solution provided by the super user resolved your issue. Please let us know if you need any further assistance.
If our super user response resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accept as solution" and click "Yes" if you found it helpful.

Regards,
Chaithra.

[rohit1991]

Hi @gdenayer ,

The error you're encountering when trying to connect to an Excel file hosted on SharePoint (OneDrive) via Power BI is a common one, especially when using the "Link to file" method. While you're able to preview the file and even see its contents initially, the issue likely occurs at the point where Power BI tries to load or refresh the data using the file path. This can happen for several reasons: the URL might not be in the proper format, the file may not be publicly accessible, or there might be permission/authentication conflicts—especially if you're using an organizational account with restricted access.

To resolve this, try using the SharePoint folder connector instead of the basic file path. Copy the SharePoint site URL (not the full file link), then use “Get Data > SharePoint Folder” in Power BI Desktop. From there, navigate to and filter for the specific Excel file. Also, ensure your credentials are set correctly under Data source settings, using an Organizational account and that you're signed into the correct environment. If issues persist across multiple files, it’s a strong indication of a permissions or connector method issue rather than a file-specific problem.

Passionate about leveraging data analytics to drive strategic decision-making and foster business growth.

Connect with me on LinkedIn: Rohit Kumar.

[gdenayer]

Hi @Ch ,

Thanks for your input.

I got it to work with your tips on PowerBI desktop, but I still had issues to get the data refresh (again credetial issues), so but decided to switch to a table (over an excel file) to have more control. (the excel was generated from a form, not I'm using a powerautomate to fill the table with the content).

Thanks for ther pointers anyway!

Gerrit

[v-echaithra · Accepted solution]

HI @gdenayer ,

Thank you for reaching Microsoft Community.

As per the information provided by you, 

It looks like an issue with authentication or access rights, particularly around SharePoint/OneDrive and how Power BI tries to verify your identity.

Check the File permissions, ensure that Excel file is shared correctly and that your Power BI account has read access to the file, also If using OneDrive, make sure you're signed into the same account in Power BI.
Check Power BI Privacy Settings
Go to File > Options and Settings > Privacy Settings in Power BI Desktop.
Set the privacy level to Organizational or Public to allow data access.

You can also try different import method, like try uploading the Excel file to Power BI Service and then connecting to it from Power BI Desktop.

If this post helps, please give us Kudos and consider marking it Accept as solution to assist other members in finding it more easily.

Regards,
Chaithra