Is there compatibility opening newer Remote Server PBIX in older Remote Server version ?

[F_Reh]

Good Afternoon,

I have this scenario:

1) Dashboards originally developed in Microsoft Power BI Desktop Version 2.145.1105.0 64-bit (July 2025).

2) Recently, those dashboards (made in the Desktop Version) were completely recreated in an Onprem (Remote Server) Version 2.150.1926.0 64-bit (January 2026).

3) Unfortunately, I am not able to save these recreated on to the Power BI Server, and have been advised that those who have been able to do so are using another (older) version Microsoft Power BI Report Server - May 2025 which is on this page for download:

Download Microsoft Power BI Report Server - May 2025 from Official Microsoft Download Center

4) If I were to replace the Onprem Remote Server Version : 2.150.1926.0 64-bit (January 2026) (that I have been recently working with) and instead install Microsoft Power BI Report Server - May 2025, would it be possible to continue working with those newly created PBIX's - just as they are - and successfully save them on to the Power BI Server ? Or would one to forced to recreate the dashboards all over again in Microsoft Power BI Report Server - May 2025 ?

Kind advise..

[F_Reh]

Thank you !

How about if I converted the dashboards in to Template files (.PBIT), then install the May 2025 Onprem RS version on my local machine - thus removing Onprem Remote Server Version : 2.150.1926.0 64-bit (January 2026). Then in the May 2025 Onprem RS version, open up the Template and save it. Then try to publish it to the current Power BI Server (in it current version) ? 

[v-veshwara-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @F_Reh ,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Fabric Community.

PBIX files created using the January 2026 version of Power BI Desktop (Report Server) won’t open or publish successfully to a May 2025 Report Server. This is expected behavior, as Report Server doesn’t support forward compatibility. An older server version can’t interpret a PBIX created with a newer schema, and there isn’t a supported way to downgrade or convert the file.

So if you switch your environment to the May 2025 version, those recently created reports can’t be reused as-is. You would need to recreate them using the matching May 2025 Report Server Desktop.

The better option here would be to align the server with the version you’ve already used to build the reports. Upgrading the server to the January 2026 release should allow you to publish the existing PBIX files without rework.

As a general rule with Microsoft Power BI Report Server, the Desktop version used for authoring should always match the server version (January, May, or September releases).

Similar threads for reference: Solved: Backwards compatibility issue - Microsoft Fabric Community

Jan2026 reports created with PowerBi Report server compatibility - Microsoft Q&A

Hope this helps clarify.