Skip to main content
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

The Power BI Data Visualization World Championships is back! It's time to submit your entry. Live now!

Reply
jaryszek
Memorable Member
Memorable Member

Why power bi shows negative numbers in parenthesis?

hi Guys,

I am on DirectLake over OneLake. This is my data:

 

jaryszek_0-1765441486395.png

 

And power bi when I have currency shows this as this:

jaryszek_1-1765441590879.png


How to change format to see minuses. 

jaryszek_2-1765441614997.png


Best,
Jacek

 



1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
ChielFaber
Solution Specialist
Solution Specialist

This is because of the locale. In the pane your looking at you  can choose a locale that doesn't use the () like Chinese simplified (this keeps the dollar sign albeit from a different locale).

But the easiest way is to select Custom and then the correct code will appear (at least when I tried it after replicating your issue)

ChielFaber_0-1765445169526.png



This will get you the following output:

ChielFaber_1-1765445203388.png

This is the location:

ChielFaber_2-1765445249372.png

 




[Tip] Keep CALM and DAX on.
[Solved?] Hit “Accept as Solution” and leave a Kudos.
[About] Chiel | SuperUser (2023–2) |

View solution in original post

3 REPLIES 3

You can change this by changing the locale settings.
and use custome settings.

The Power BI 

  1. Power BI shows negative numbers in parentheses because the field is formatted as Accounting or Currency.
  2. Parentheses are a display format only — the number is still negative internally.
  3. To change it:
    • Select the column or measure
    • Go to Modeling
    • Change Format to Whole Number or Decimal Number|Or use a custom format to show a minus sign: (#,##0;-#,##0), this affects how numbers look, not how calculations work.




 

m_dekorte
Resident Rockstar
Resident Rockstar

Yes, as @ChielFaber has explained you can switch to Custom format, read more about it here:
Use custom format strings in Power BI Desktop - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

ChielFaber
Solution Specialist
Solution Specialist

This is because of the locale. In the pane your looking at you  can choose a locale that doesn't use the () like Chinese simplified (this keeps the dollar sign albeit from a different locale).

But the easiest way is to select Custom and then the correct code will appear (at least when I tried it after replicating your issue)

ChielFaber_0-1765445169526.png



This will get you the following output:

ChielFaber_1-1765445203388.png

This is the location:

ChielFaber_2-1765445249372.png

 




[Tip] Keep CALM and DAX on.
[Solved?] Hit “Accept as Solution” and leave a Kudos.
[About] Chiel | SuperUser (2023–2) |

Helpful resources

Announcements
FabCon Atlanta 2026 carousel

FabCon Atlanta 2026

Join us at FabCon Atlanta, March 16-20, for the ultimate Fabric, Power BI, AI and SQL community-led event. Save $200 with code FABCOMM.