PowerBI Audit Activity events API - Scheduled RefreshDataset activity

[ledd_25]

im trying to get refresh activity for all datasets in the organization using service principal utilizing the get activity events

However this does not include scheduled events. You can use get refresh history, but it only works for workspaces you have access to.

But im trying to get all the scheduled refresh events of all datasets in the organization. Are there other ways to access that without being part of every workspace?

if no, then  how could you get all scheduled refresh dataset activities of the org's datasets? Do you need to programmatically set yourself as a workspace user temporarily then remove when done?

[Poojara_D12]

Hi @ledd_25 

You're correct in identifying a key limitation in the Power BI REST APIs: while Get Activity Events provides audit-level activity logs, it does not capture scheduled refreshes that were successful, as these are not considered user-triggered actions. On the other hand, the Get Refresh History API does provide detailed refresh logs (including scheduled ones), but only for datasets in workspaces where the calling identity—like your service principal—has at least viewer access. Unfortunately, there is no out-of-the-box method to fetch refresh histories across all datasets in the entire tenant using a service principal unless that principal has explicit access to every workspace.

To overcome this, the most viable method is to programmatically assign your service principal (or an automation account) to each workspace with viewer or contributor access, run the Get Refresh History for all datasets, and then optionally remove the access afterward. This can be automated using the Power BI Admin APIs (Add Group User, List Groups, Get Datasets In Group, etc.), but it requires your service principal to have Power BI Admin API permissions and the Tenant.Read.All or Workspace.Read.All Graph permissions.

Alternatively, if you're a Power BI Service Administrator, you can consider setting up a custom logging solution using Power BI's audit logs via Microsoft Purview (formerly Compliance Center), which can log dataset refresh activity (including scheduled ones), though it comes with delays and more complex parsing.

In short, yes—temporarily granting your service principal access to all workspaces programmatically, then removing it post-extraction, is currently the most effective and scalable way to gather all scheduled refresh activity from across the organization.

[v-dineshya]

Hi @ledd_25 ,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community Forum.

The Get Activity Events API from Power BI’s Admin REST API returns audit log events for a tenant, but it does not include scheduled refresh events. This is a known limitation.

please refer below for alternative workaround.

1. Use the Get Refresh History API, but it requires access to each workspace. Power BI Service Admin can use the Admin APIs to enumerate all datasets across the tenant using GetDatasetsAsAdmin, then loop through each dataset to call Get Refresh History.

Note: This still requires that the service principal has access to each workspace.

2. Audit logs for Power BI can be captured through the Microsoft 365 Audit Log . This includes scheduled refreshes if audit logging is enabled in the Power BI Admin Portal.

3. When the service principal is not a member, If you want access refresh history for workspaces try the below workaround.

Temporarily assign the service principal to each workspace. Fetch the refresh history and then remove the service principal, this can be automated using the Power BI REST Admin APIs.

Please refer below microsoft official document for your reference.

Admin - Get Activity Events - REST API (Power BI Power BI REST APIs) | Microsoft Learn

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[v-dineshya]

Hi @ledd_25 ,

We haven’t heard from you on the last response and was just checking back to see if you have a resolution yet.do click Accept Answer and Yes for was this answer helpful. And, if you have any further query do let us know.

Thank you.

[v-dineshya]

Hi @ledd_25 ,

We haven’t heard from you on the last response and was just checking back to see if you have a resolution yet. And, if you have any further query do let us know.

Thank you.

[v-dineshya]

Hi @ledd_25 ,

We haven’t heard from you on the last response and was just checking back to see if you have a resolution yet. And, if you have any further query do let us know.

Thank you.

[Deku]

You would need read access to the semantic models.

Alternatively you can set log analytics integration on each workspace. This will give all refreshes, plus you get the benefit of knowing how long the refreshes take and the cpu cost, plus you get stats for individual tables and partitions etc 

[ledd_25]

I have over 1000 workspaces, is there any way to programmatically do that? if no, what other alternatives do i have?

[Deku · Accepted solution]

Yes. Use GetGroupsAsAdmin to get the workspace then run AddUserAsAdmin for each. Pick you favourite scripting language of choice