Linking to SharePoint, NOT OneDrive

Hi cwindsor,

This is a general misunderstanding because OneDrive and SharePoint may appear and act the same way when users navigate through files, but the method of connection does make a significant difference for collaboration.

To ensure that your Excel file is linked through SharePoint (not your own OneDrive) you can go to your sharePoint site in a web browser then go to the document library where the Excel file is located. Now open up the file menu (… or right-click) on the Excel file and select "Copy link". Ensure the link you copy begins with "https://[yourdomain].sharepoint.com/sites/.".
If it begins with "https://[yourdomain]-my.sharepoint.com/personal/.", that's OneDrive.

Now in PowerBI Desktop, navigate to Home -> Get Data -> Web and enter the SharePoint file link here. If the link is a "sharing" link with parameters (?e=., etc.), make it clean so that it will end in .xlsx and resemble something like "https://yourdomain.sharepoint.com/sites/YourSite/Shared%20Documents

/FolderName/YourFile.xlsx".
When it asks, select "Organizational Account" and log in if necessary. Power BI will now connect via the SharePoint path, and anyone who can access the SharePoint site and the Power BI file will also be able to refresh or update the connection (if they have the proper permissions).

Best Regards,

Hammad.