Semantic model no longer refreshing from onedrive. The excel linked to is a copy and not original

[elliottlawlor]

Hi.

Some help needed please. I have had an excel file with all my data which is held on one drive. The excel on one drive ended up creating a copy of this excel when there was a conflict. It appears that i saved over the "original" with a copy (although named exactly the same and containing all the same data).

This "new" excel on one drive is no longer syncing with power bi service. How do i get this excel doucment to be recognised as the original excel ro work with all the reports that i have created around that excel.

If that cannot be done, what is the best solution for re connecting this excel and having all the reports i have spent time creating link to this new data source?

I can re connect the "new" excel as a semantic model and everything syncs properly and i can see the data, but this would require me creating every report again from scratch? Is there a quick way of copying the reports and using the new semantic model as teh data source if i cannot link the extsing reports to the new data source.

I am using power Bi online and not the desktop version. Please help as i cannot see how to fix this at all!

Thank you.

[v-karpurapud]

Hi @elliottlawlor 

We are following up to see if you have had the chance to review the information provided. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Could you confirm whether your query has been resolved by the solution provided by @Nasif_Azam  ? If so, kindly mark the helpful response and accept it as the solution to assist other community members in resolving similar issues more efficiently. If not, please provide detailed information so we can better assist you.

Thank You!

[Nasif_Azam]

Hey @elliottlawlor ,

You're dealing with a common issue that occurs when OneDrive creates a duplicate Excel file due to sync conflicts. Since you're using Power BI Service (Online) and not Desktop, you're limited in how you can reconnect your reports directly to a new semantic model. You had an Excel file on OneDrive linked to Power BI Service. A conflict created a "copy" (with the same name), which replaced the original. Now:

• The semantic model in Power BI no longer refreshes.

• You can load the new Excel file as a new semantic model, but your existing reports are not linked to it.

Option 1: Attempt to Restore OneDrive's Original File

1. Go to OneDrive web (https://onedrive.live.com).

2. Navigate to the folder containing your Excel file.

3. Right-click the file and select Version History.

4. See if you can find the original version that was linked to Power BI and restore it.

5. If you succeed: Power BI Service should be able to reconnect to the semantic model, assuming the file path hasn’t changed.

Ensure the filename and path stay exactly the same, including casing and extension.

Option 2: Reconnect New Excel File Without Rebuilding Reports

If restoring the original isn't possible, this is your best bet:

1. Publish New Excel File to OneDrive

Ensure your new Excel file is saved and synced in the exact path and format as the old one. If the path is different, Power BI won’t recognize it.

2. Rebuild a New Dataset (Semantic Model)

In Power BI Service:

• Connect the new Excel to a new semantic model.

• Confirm it refreshes correctly.

3. Use "Save As" or Copy Reports and Rebind to New Semantic Model

Unfortunately, Power BI Service does not yet allow you to change the dataset for a report directly online.

If you have Power BI Desktop access:

1. Download the .pbix report from Power BI Service.

2. Open in Power BI Desktop.

3. Go to Transform Data > Data Source Settings.

4. Click Change Source and point it to the new Excel.

5. Re-publish to Power BI Service.

If you don't have Desktop access, the only option is to recreate the report using the new semantic model.

Option 3: Online Only

If you're stuck online with no access to Desktop:

1. Open the new Excel in OneDrive.

2. Use the same name and exact location as the original file.

3. Try renaming the "new" Excel to match the original one exactly.

4. Open Power BI Service, and under the dataset settings, click "Take Over" if you see that option.

5. If “Take Over” or “Refresh” still fails, you will need to recreate the dataset and rebuild the reports.

For Detailed Information:

Microsoft Learn – Power BI and OneDrive/SharePoint Integration

Microsoft Learn – Restore a Previous Version in OneDrive

Changing a Power BI Dataset Data Source (if using Desktop)

If you found this solution helpful, please consider accepting it and giving it a kudos (Like) it’s greatly appreciated and helps others find the solution more easily.

Best Regards,
Nasif Azam