Skip to main content
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Calling all Data Engineers! Fabric Data Engineer (Exam DP-700) live sessions are back! Starting October 16th. Sign up.

Reply
Anonymous
Not applicable

Network folder

Hi. I can't add my network folder path to my existing Gateway as a data source. When I refresh data within power bi desktop it works just fine and connects to an excel spreadsheet. I'm using Excel file connector. However, in power bi services it doesn't let me add the source. 

Below is the path to get to an excel file within power bi desktop:

power bi desktop.JPG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is an error I'm receiving. I tried to use my full email address and also other variations but it shows that my credentials are invalid. 

power bi service.JPG

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
v-diye-msft
Community Support
Community Support

Hi @Anonymous 

 

1. If you can access your file / folder in the File Explorer(Or you can try to add a network location by right click in File explorer),  you can directly connect them in power bi desktop via excel/csv/folder connector, after you publish this report to power bi service, the direction should be exist in "Settings" - "Datasets" - "Gateway Connections".

 

2. Use the full path of the server/folder - you likely have the network drive mapped to one of your local drives. It needs to be the full path, not the mapped one.

 

3. I'd like to recommend using parameters.

Please refer to: https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Power-Query/Data-Sources-with-Data-Gateway/m-p/720082 

More to this topic: Deep Dive into Query Parameters and Power BI Templates

 

Community Support Team _ Dina Ye
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more
quickly.

View solution in original post

2 REPLIES 2
v-diye-msft
Community Support
Community Support

Hi @Anonymous 

 

1. If you can access your file / folder in the File Explorer(Or you can try to add a network location by right click in File explorer),  you can directly connect them in power bi desktop via excel/csv/folder connector, after you publish this report to power bi service, the direction should be exist in "Settings" - "Datasets" - "Gateway Connections".

 

2. Use the full path of the server/folder - you likely have the network drive mapped to one of your local drives. It needs to be the full path, not the mapped one.

 

3. I'd like to recommend using parameters.

Please refer to: https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Power-Query/Data-Sources-with-Data-Gateway/m-p/720082 

More to this topic: Deep Dive into Query Parameters and Power BI Templates

 

Community Support Team _ Dina Ye
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more
quickly.
GilbertQ
Super User
Super User

Hi there

Is the Folder Location of the P:\ on the Gateway Server?

From the above it would appear that you need to use Domain\UserName in the settings.
EG: LiquidityServices\Lukas.Klimek

The On-Premise Windows servers do not understand UPN or email addresses.




Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution!

Proud to be a Super User!







Power BI Blog

Helpful resources

Announcements
FabCon Global Hackathon Carousel

FabCon Global Hackathon

Join the Fabric FabCon Global Hackathon—running virtually through Nov 3. Open to all skill levels. $10,000 in prizes!

October Power BI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - October 2025

Check out the October 2025 Power BI update to learn about new features.

FabCon Atlanta 2026 carousel

FabCon Atlanta 2026

Join us at FabCon Atlanta, March 16-20, for the ultimate Fabric, Power BI, AI and SQL community-led event. Save $200 with code FABCOMM.

Top Solution Authors
Top Kudoed Authors