ODBC Credentials - No Notification If Power Query Can't Connect?

Hi Txtcher

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Fabric Community Forum.

The issue you are facing is due to Power Query attempting database connections with outdated ODBC credentials after your monthly password change.

ince Power Query doesn't automatically validate credentials before running a query, it fails silently. After three unsuccessful login attempts, your organization’s security policy locks the account, causing disruption without clear notification unless you manually check the queries.

To resolve this, store your ODBC username and password as parameters in Power Query and update them after each password change. Create a lightweight test query to check connectivity before running main queries, and add data validation checks in Excel to highlight missing data after refresh.

Optionally, set a recurring reminder to update credentials monthly and use Power Automate for critical report notifications. This approach will prevent silent failures and avoid account lockouts.

For reference: Power Query ODBC connector - Power Query | Microsoft Learn

If this response resolves your query, please mark it as Accepted Solution to assist other community members. A Kudos is also appreciated if you found the response helpful.

Thank you!