Cannot set Gateway in Dataflow

[ajohns3]

Hi,

I am unable to create a new dataflow that uses a gateway or to edit the gateway used by an existing dataflow.

Editing the gateway in the web interface works - going to Options -> Project Data Load -> Data Gateway and selecting a gateway causes the previews to uise the gateway, but savings the dataflow and refreshing it reverts to using no gateway. Opening the dataflow to edit again shows that no gateway is selected.

I'm using Gen 1 dataflows.

Any help appreciated.

[Mauro89 · Accepted solution]

Hi @ajohns3,

check out if any of these fixes might work:

1. Set gateway at the connection level: Instead of setting it in Project Data Load options, configure the gateway when you first create/edit the data source connection in Power Query. The gateway should be selected during the "Connection settings" step.

2. Use "Configure connection" after publishing:

   • Publish the dataflow without gateway selection
   • Go to the workspace, find the dataflow
   • Click the three dots (…) → Settings → Gateway connection
   • Select your gateway there and save

3. Check gateway permissions: Ensure you have "Can use" or "Can use with reshare" permissions on the gateway. Lack of proper permissions can cause silent failures.

4. Browser cache/session: Clear browser cache or try in an incognito window - sometimes the UI doesn't properly commit the selection.

5. Consider migrating to Gen2: Gen2 dataflows (Fabric) have better gateway handling and are more reliable for on-premises connections.

If none work: This might be a tenant-level issue. Contact Microsoft Support or consider using a dataset with gateway instead of a dataflow as a workaround.

Best regards!

PS: If you find this post helpful consider leaving kudos or mark it as solution

[v-pnaroju-msft]

Hi ajohns3,

We are following up to see if what we shared solved your issue. If you need more support, please reach out to the Microsoft Fabric community.

Thank you.

[v-pnaroju-msft]

Thankyou, @Mauro89 and @wardy912for your responses.

Hi ajohns3,

We appreciate your inquiry through the Microsoft Fabric Community Forum.

We would like to inquire whether have you got the chance to check the solutions provided by @Mauro89 and @wardy912 to resolve the issue. We hope the information provided helps to clear the query. Should you have any further queries, kindly feel free to contact the Microsoft Fabric community.

Thank you.

[wardy912 · Accepted solution]

Hi @ajohns3 

 First suggestion is move to dataflow gen2, there's been no EOL announced for gen1, but gen2 is being prioritised.

Migrate from Dataflow Gen1 to Dataflow Gen2 - Microsoft Fabric | Microsoft Learn

Next info is AI generated and unverified, but I hope it helps

Why this happens (in short)

• Gen1 editor sometimes doesn’t persist the gateway binding even though previews work. This has popped up before and was acknowledged/“fixed” in the service more than once, but similar symptoms still surface intermittently. [community....rosoft.com], [community....rosoft.com]
• With the new Connections model, the binding that matters is often the connection-to-gateway mapping under Settings → Manage connections and gateways, not only what the Gen1 editor shows. If the underlying Connection still points to “cloud/none,” the dataflow refresh falls back to that even if the editor temporarily used your gateway. [learn.microsoft.com], [red-gate.com]
• Gen1 is now the older generation. Microsoft’s guidance is to prefer Dataflow Gen2 for new work; investments and fixes go there first. (Gen1 isn’t deprecated, but Gen2 is the priority.) [learn.microsoft.com], [learn.microsoft.com]

---

Fix that usually works (and persists)

Goal: Make the gateway binding live in Manage connections and gateways, then ensure your Gen1 dataflow uses that exact connection.

1. Create/verify a Connection that is explicitly mapped to your gateway

   • In Power BI Service, go to Settings → Manage connections and gateways → Connections → New.
   • Choose On-premises, pick your Gateway cluster, pick the data source type, and enter Server/Database identically to your M query (even case can matter for how Power Query resolves connections). Save credentials. [learn.microsoft.com]
   • Why: this creates a durable object the service will respect at refresh time, independent of the Gen1 editor’s transient state. [red-gate.com]

2. Ensure you have rights to see and use the gateway and its data source

   • In Manage connections and gateways → On‑premises data gateways, confirm you (or your SPN) are an admin on the gateway and a user on the relevant data source within that gateway; otherwise the editor can’t persist the mapping. [learn.microsoft.com], [community....rosoft.com]

3. Rebind the dataflow to the new Connection from inside the editor

   • Open the dataflow → Edit → Options → Project → Data load → Data gateway and pick your gateway (or (none) if you’re moving off a gateway for a cloud source).
   • Then, for each query’s first “Source” step, click the gear and select the Connection you created in step 1. If the correct Connection doesn’t show, a simple trick is to change the case of the database or path in the M “Source” step (e.g., MyDB → mydb) to force Power Query to treat it as a new connection, then choose the right Connection (with the gateway) when prompted. This has resolved Gen1’s insistence on a gateway/no‑gateway mismatch for many folks. [sqlkover.com], [sqlservercentral.com]

4. Save the dataflow and do a manual Refresh from the dataflow settings page (not just inside the editor). Check it still shows the gateway under Settings → Gateway and cloud connections and that the refresh uses the gateway successfully. [learn.microsoft.com]

---

Things to double‑check (they commonly cause the reset)

• Exact server/database/URL match between the Connection and your M code. If they differ (even subtly), the service may pick a different Connection (or “none”) at refresh time. [learn.microsoft.com]
• Workspace type: Gen1 works best in new (v2) workspaces; classic workspaces have limited options and have caused confusing UX in the past. [learn.microsoft.com]
• Credential scope & privacy levels: mismatched credentials or privacy levels cause the editor to prompt repeatedly and can prevent persisting the gateway setting. [learn.microsoft.com]
• Gateway visibility/permissions: if you’re not on the gateway’s Users/Admins lists, the editor often shows “no gateway” even though one exists. [community....rosoft.com]
• Recent service regressions: There’s historical precedent for “gateway not saved” bugs affecting many tenants for a few days; when in doubt, check service health or try again later. [community....rosoft.com], [community....rosoft.com]

--------------------------------

I hope this helps, please give kudos and mark as solved if it does!

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[Mauro89 · Accepted solution]

Hi @ajohns3,

check out if any of these fixes might work:

1. Set gateway at the connection level: Instead of setting it in Project Data Load options, configure the gateway when you first create/edit the data source connection in Power Query. The gateway should be selected during the "Connection settings" step.

2. Use "Configure connection" after publishing:

   • Publish the dataflow without gateway selection
   • Go to the workspace, find the dataflow
   • Click the three dots (…) → Settings → Gateway connection
   • Select your gateway there and save

3. Check gateway permissions: Ensure you have "Can use" or "Can use with reshare" permissions on the gateway. Lack of proper permissions can cause silent failures.

4. Browser cache/session: Clear browser cache or try in an incognito window - sometimes the UI doesn't properly commit the selection.

5. Consider migrating to Gen2: Gen2 dataflows (Fabric) have better gateway handling and are more reliable for on-premises connections.

If none work: This might be a tenant-level issue. Contact Microsoft Support or consider using a dataset with gateway instead of a dataflow as a workaround.

Best regards!

PS: If you find this post helpful consider leaving kudos or mark it as solution