Upgrade Power BI Report Server from May 2022 to Jan 2026

[crfallon]

Is it possible to directly update the report server from May 2022 to Jan 2026? Will reports/dashboards still work?

[crfallon]

Thank you - that's very helpful.

[ArwaAldoud]

You're welcome

[ArwaAldoud · Accepted solution]

Hi @crfallon 
We upgraded from January 2023 to January 2024, and the reports were not impacted — everything worked smoothly.

However, we now try to stay at least on an (N-1) version, as we’ve seen noticeable improvements in performance and features over time.

Before upgrading, I recommend

• Taking a full backup of the ReportServer databases
• Backing up the server
• Creating a snapshot — so you can safely roll back if needed.

I don’t expect major issues with reports, especially if they were built using Power BI Desktop (RS). However, it’s important to ensure that the Desktop version aligns with the Report Server version, as compatibility is tied to the release.

Also, it’s worth noting that after an upgrade, you may need to reconfigure data source credentials or scheduled refresh for some reports, as these settings can occasionally be affected.

If this response was helpful, please accept it as a solution and give kudos to support other community members

[v-echaithra]

Hi @crfallon ,

Yes, it is supported to perform a direct in place upgrade of Power BI Report Server from May 2022 to January 2026 without installing intermediate versions. In most cases, existing PBIX and paginated (RDL) reports, along with data sources and schedules, will continue to function as expected due to backward compatibility. However, given the significant version gap, we recommend validating a few key areas to ensure a smooth transition.

Before proceeding, please ensure that you take full backups of the ReportServer and ReportServerTempDB databases and securely store the encryption key, as this is critical for preserving data source credentials. After the upgrade, you will also need to use the corresponding January 2026 version of Power BI Desktop for Report Server, as older Desktop versions (including 32-bit, which is deprecated) will no longer be supported for report authoring or publishing.

In particular, please ensure that you back up the ReportServer databases and securely store the encryption key prior to the upgrade, as this is critical for preserving data source credentials. After upgrading, you will also need to use the corresponding January 2026 version of Power BI Desktop for Report Server to maintain compatibility when modifying or publishing reports. Additionally, it is advisable to review any custom visuals, extensions, or authentication configurations, as changes across multiple releases may impact these components.

While most built-in functionality remains stable, it is important to review any custom visuals, legacy extensions, or older report definitions, as changes to APIs and rendering behavior across releases may impact them. Additionally, given the multi-year version jump, there are some environmental considerations to validate such as ensuring support for modern security protocols (e.g., TLS 1.2+), confirming SQL Server compatibility for the ReportServer database, and revalidating authentication configurations (including Kerberos/Active Directory and SPN setup), as these areas may surface issues post-upgrade if not aligned with current requirements.

As a best practice, we strongly recommend first performing the upgrade in a non production environment using a restored copy of your ReportServer database. This allows you to validate report functionality, subscriptions, refresh behavior, custom components, and authentication flows before applying the upgrade in production, thereby minimizing risk.

Please let us know if you need assistance with a detailed validation checklist or upgrade steps, we’d be happy to help.

Thank you.