Compatibility Issues Between 64-bit Power BI and 32-bit Software

[C_Shaw]

Hi all,

I’m hoping someone here might have a solution or workaround for an issue I’ve been facing with Power BI.

Currently, we’re using 64-bit Power BI for our reporting needs. However, a lot of the software we rely on is still 32-bit, and we’re encountering significant compatibility issues when trying to connect the two. Specifically, the 32-bit software doesn’t play well with the 64-bit Power BI version, especially when it comes to importing data or using custom connectors (ODBC).

The main problem I’m dealing with is that I cannot upgrade to the latest version of Power BI, as my current version is actually the last one that still supports some of the legacy features and custom connectors I rely on. On top of that, I can’t use automatic refreshing either, because the 32-bit software doesn’t work with the 64-bit version of Power BI during refresh cycles.

Has anyone encountered this issue and found an established solution to bridge the gap between 64-bit Power BI and 32-bit software?

Is there a way to make the two work together, or perhaps a workaround that doesn’t involve upgrading Power BI or replacing our 32-bit software?

[Anonymous]

Hi @C_Shaw ,

Is my follow-up just to ask if the problem has been solved?

If so, can you accept the correct answer as a solution or share your solution to help other members find it faster?

Thank you very much for your cooperation!

Best Regards,
Dengliang Li

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[rubayatyasmin]

Hi, @C_Shaw 
1. is it possible to set up a VM and install 32-bit PBI to connect to 32-bit software? This can be a workaround. 
2. You can set up a database like an older version of SQL server as a bridge. refer: 64 Bit Power BI Desktop with 32 Bit Office? Can do! - Excelerator BI

3. For data sources that can be exported manually or automatically, you could set up a routine that exports data from the 32-bit software into a format Power BI can handle (like CSV or Excel). That way you should be able to bypass the ODBC connectivity.