Compatibility with Desktop May 2024

[guidov]

Hi everyone,

I couldn't find any information regarding version compatibility between Report Server and the Desktop client.

Is Report Server May 2025 compatible with Desktop May 2024? I couldn't find any info on version compatibility. We are planning to upgrade our Report Server, and currently, we are on the May 2024 version.

Thanks in advance,,
Guido

[Poojara_D12]

Hi @guidov 

Power BI Report Server and Power BI Desktop for Report Server are tightly coupled by version, meaning they are not guaranteed to be forward- or backward-compatible across different release dates. Specifically, Power BI Desktop May 2024 is not officially compatible with Power BI Report Server May 2025, because each Report Server release expects reports to be authored and published using the corresponding version of Power BI Desktop optimized for Report Server (which is different from regular Power BI Desktop from the Microsoft Store).

If you attempt to open or publish a report authored in a newer Power BI Desktop (May 2025) to an older Report Server (May 2024), or vice versa, you may encounter issues such as features not rendering properly, visuals failing, or version mismatch errors. To avoid such problems, always use the same version of Power BI Desktop for Report Server as your deployed Power BI Report Server instance.

Therefore, as you plan to upgrade your Power BI Report Server to the May 2025 version, you should also ensure all report authors install the Power BI Desktop for Report Server – May 2025 version, which will be available on the official Microsoft download page along with each server release. This will ensure full compatibility and support for all report features.

[v-aatheeque]

Hi @guidov 

Just wanted to follow up on your query regarding compatibility between Power BI Report Server (May 2025) and Desktop (May 2024).

As previously shared, it’s generally recommended to use the Power BI Desktop for Report Server that matches the version of your Report Server to avoid any compatibility issues  especially when working with newer features.

Let us know if you’ve had a chance to review this or need further help with the upgrade plan!

Thanks again for checking in.
We haven’t heard back from you in a while. If the earlier response helped, please consider marking it as the Accepted Answer so it can assist others in the community facing a similar scenario.

[Nasif_Azam]

Hey @guidov ,

When you're using Power BI Report Server and Power BI Desktop for Report Server, they usually have different version numbers, but they are designed to work together. In your case, you're asking whether the Power BI Report Server (May 2025) will work with the Power BI Desktop (May 2024).

Here’s a simple breakdown:

1. Version Compatibility:
   Power BI Report Server and Power BI Desktop are updated separately. So, just because one is from May 2024 and the other is from May 2025 doesn't necessarily mean they won’t work together. Typically, the Desktop version is backward compatible, meaning a newer desktop version can work with an older Report Server version. But the reverse (older desktop with a newer Report Server) may sometimes cause issues, especially if the server version has new features that the older desktop version can’t understand.

2. Compatibility in Your Case:
   Since you're planning to upgrade your Report Server to the May 2025 version and you’re currently on May 2024, it should still work fine with the May 2024 version of Power BI Desktop for Report Server. The general rule is that newer versions of Report Server usually work with older versions of the desktop client, but not the other way around.

3. What You Should Do:

   • Test in a safe environment: Before fully upgrading, it’s a good idea to test the new Report Server version with your current Desktop version. This can help you spot any problems early.

   • Look for specific documentation: Microsoft releases detailed compatibility guides that list which versions of the desktop can be used with which versions of the server. Checking these will give you more confidence in your upgrade.

In summary, the May 2024 version of Desktop should work fine with the May 2025 Report Server version, but always verify with official documents and consider doing a test before fully upgrading.

If you found this solution helpful, please consider accepting it and giving it a kudos (Like) it’s greatly appreciated and helps others find the solution more easily.

Best Regards,
Nasif Azam

[v-aatheeque]

Hi @guidov 
@Nasif_Azam Thanks for quick response..
Thanks for raising this important compatibility question!

As already explained by the @Nasif_Azam , Power BI Report Server and the Power BI Desktop for Report Server are versioned separately, and while they’re generally backward compatible, using a newer Report Server with an older Desktop client may sometimes lead to unexpected behavior especially if new features are involved.

For more info refer this link : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/report-server/changelog#may-2025

Hope this helps !!

If this post was helpful, please consider marking Accept as solution to assist other members in finding it more easily.