user can't open my shared report, and got message 'need upgrade to powerBI pro'

[Anonymous]

Hi team, 

I created a report in powerBI desktop pro and publish it to 'My workspace', then shared 'view' permission to team members. At the beginning, they can open and view the report successfully. But today, someone tell me they can't open the report successfully and got the message 'need upgde to powerBI pro'. I checked this user's license type in powerBI service is 'free account'. but my license type in PowerBI service is 'Pro user'.

Can anyone please advice 

1. what i should do for user can open the report？

2. what user should do for they can open the report by themself?

Thanks,

Cherie

[ibarrau · Accepted solution]

Hi. That sounds like the first time they started the Trial of the Pro without even realizing. Free users can't either share or be shared. It's a licence for personal use. The only way free users can actually view reports it's if the reports are published on a Workspace with Premium Capacity. Otherwise only pro users can read what other pro users are sharing.

Unless you have premium (that is quite expensive if you just started using PowerBi), if they want to view PowerBi, they need Pro.

Additional note: I would recommend creating a Workspace to develop reports instead of using "My Workspace". The personal workspace is depending on the account. The regular workspaces are depending on the organization so they will be there if a user is removed for example.

I hope that helps,

[Anonymous]

Hi @ibarrau 

Thank you for the commment.

1. does your recommendation mean that I create a workspace in powerBI clould version, and develop report there, instead of develop report in powerBI Pro Desktop? This is not acceptable in my case because I need to upload a custom visual and create chart based this custom visual in PowerBI Pro Desktop.  PowerBI clould version can't upload a custom visual.

Is there any other workaround? I wouldn't like everyone to request a Pro license as its inconvenient for the report consumers as they just need read the report in their daily work, no need to build report. 

2. If I am PPU account, then I create and publish the report in PowerBI Desktop Pro. can free account user view the report

Thanks,

Cherie

[ibarrau]

cheriemilk.

1. No. That's not what I'm saying. You should always use PowerBi Desktop for develop. Then you can publish your report. I suggested publishing on a created workspace and not over "My Workspace". You can create workspaces for collaborative work at Power Bi Service. Use one of those. That's good, asking pro for all users will let them view the reports.

2. If you have premium per user account, it depends on the workspace but it's pretty much the same. If the workspace has premium per user turned on, then only users with PPU can share or be shared.

The licence that let free users view workspaces is Premium Capacity (the one with P1, P2,... that starts at 5000 usd)

I hope that helps,

[Anonymous]

Hi @ibarrau ,

One more question. When the users who view the report request a pro license, do they need  install Pro desktop in order to view the report successfully? or they are able to directly view the report without installing Pro desktop?

Thanks,

Cherie

[ibarrau]

Sorry about the delay. I was on vacation.
The PowerBi Desktop is a free tool. You can use it with any licence.

The licence is only applied to PowerBi Service. 

[Anonymous]

Hi @ibarrau Never mind. thank you for the explaination.

[Anonymous]

Hi @ibarrau ,

Thank you. understood.