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dmkblesser
Helper III
Helper III

We couldn't get data from an external source. Failed to connect to the url https //api.powerbi.com.

We have been using the `Analyze in Excel` feature with our report. The report itself is using data from Snowflake via direct query. 

 

In Excel, when we clicked on refresh, we often received this error message. 

 

dmkblesser_0-1693416563095.png

and 

dmkblesser_1-1693416578844.png

 

However, if we keep trying refreshing, the refresh will work sometime in between next hour or 2 hours, so I don't think this is related to any permission issue. 

 

I looked up the previous post, one the post says it is to do with the TLS certificate and that is not the case in our end. 

 

Can someone please explain what the cause of the error message? and why does it work periodically? Thank you!

 

3 REPLIES 3
Json_Mobily
New Member

Excel desktop errorExcel desktop error

 

Screenshot 2025-08-17 094354.png

Hello Everyone! hope someone can advise me on this Error. This excel sheet on sahrepoint is connected on Power BI semantic model to collect the refreshed data.  This error just came after 3 months of used. 1st error was unable to refresh data from web so IT advised me to open the Excel on Desktop and refresh the data, it was working for 2 weeks, however now it is not totally fetching the data and heving error. thanks for your support if anyone have resolved this issue and what is the reason. i have a dought if this is credential issue. Note: Power BI license is pro.

collinq
Super User
Super User

Hi @dmkblesser ,

 

Are Analysis Services running on your computer?  And, are Analysis Services running on the gateway?  Do you have security blocking the port number(s) in question?  Is there a firewall that prevents the connection?

 

I researched this a bit and found that "The primary cause for a Connection cannot be made error is that your computer's OLE DB provider client libraries aren't current."  Can you confirm that your OLE's are all updated?  AND, if you are using the gateway, is the gateway server ALSO have the latest updates?

 

I am wondering about tokens: "The primary cause for a Token expired error is that you haven't recently used the Analyze in Excel feature on the computer you're using. To resolve this error, reenter your credentials or reopen the file, and the error should go away."

 

That is not the error message that you are receiving but might be related.

 

Is this the same for all users and/or for you on different computers?  That might help determine if the issue is local or not.

 

 

 

 

 




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Hi @collinq , thank you for your response. We run refresh on the Excel which connects to the Analysis Services on a daily basis. The error is sort of random. Some of the days, it runs smoothly and sometimes it gives this error and we have to keep trying and it often works itself out in a range from 30mins to 2 hours. 

 

The connection is running through a gateway and it has the latest updates. 

 

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