Power BI On‑Premises Data Gateway on a Windows Server without being prompted for an admin password?

Hi Ad_Khattak ,
The Power BI On Premises Data Gateway operates as a Windows service rather than a standard desktop application. The configuration tool (GatewayConfigurator.exe) intentionally requires local administrator rights, as it manages service settings, credentials, and encryption keys. Once the gateway is initially set up and registered, it does not need to be reopened for routine operation. To ensure continuous operation, the gateway service should be set to start automatically and run under a dedicated domain service account, eliminating the need for an administrator to log in each time.

If the BI team needs to restart the gateway, the recommended and secure method is to delegate Start, Stop, and Read permissions specifically for the On-premises data gateway service using Group Policy. This approach enables standard users to control the service without granting full local administrator access. For troubleshooting, you can also assign the BI security group read access to the gateway log folders, allowing them to collect logs without using the configuration tool. Changes to credentials, recovery keys, or gateway registration will still require administrator privileges, in line with Microsoft’s security guidelines.

For reference, please refer these Microsoft documentations :
https://learn.microsoft.com/power-bi/connect-data/service-gateway-onprem
https://learn.microsoft.com/power-bi/connect-data/service-gateway-install
https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/sc-sdset