Microsoft Fabric Updates Blog

Fabric SQL Database Integration: Unlocking New Possibilities with Power BI desktop

• Uncategorized

• April 29, 2025 by Sukhwant kaur 10,814 Views

Introducing Seamless Connectivity for Enhanced Data Analytics and Reporting.

We are thrilled to announce a new SQL database integration with Power BI Desktop! This innovative feature is designed to empower users with streamlined access to their SQL databases, providing greater flexibility and precision for building insightful reports and dashboards.

With this integration, users can now harness the robust capabilities of Power BI to connect directly to Fabric SQL databases. Whether you’re analyzing large-scale datasets or crafting tailored visualizations, the process has never been easier. Here’s how to get started:

Learn more about Creating a SQL database in Fabric.

Note: To learn more about using Power BI desktop click Tour the Power BI report editor.

1. Open Power BI desktop.
2. Verify if the feature is Enable.
   1. Click File -> Options and Settings-> Options->Preview features.
   2. Make sure ‘Connect to Fabric SQL database’ option is checked.

There are 2 ways to connect to the Fabric SQL database from Power BI desktop.

OneLake Catalog

1. On Home Tab, Click OneLake Catalog drop down and select SQL database.
2. Select the database and hit Connect.
3. In Navigator option select the tables for the report and hit load.
4. Chose Import or DirectQuery.
5. Now you are ready to Create the desired Report.

Get data

1. On Home Tab, Click Get data > More > select Microsoft Fabric
2. Select SQL database and hit Connect.
3. Select the SQL database from the OneLake catalog and hit Connect.
4. In Navigator option select the tables for the report and hit load.
5. Chose Import or DirectQuery.
6. Now you are ready to Create the desired Report.

Create Report

1. Drag and drop the data into the report page.
2. Copilot is another option to create reports easily.

• Select Copilot from Home Tab
• Copilot presents some reporting suggestions. Select Suggest content for a new report page.
• Review the selections by expanding their cards. Select Create on any and all suggestions that look interesting. A new tab is created at the bottom for each.
• You now have a Power BI report of your SQL database data. Review the reports for accuracy and make any desired modifications.

Ready to learn more?

Unlock a realm of new possibilities for your organization in the era of AI with the integration of Microsoft Fabric and Azure AI. Explore the potential, innovate, and thrive in the new digital landscape.

 If you want to learn more about these tools, consider:

• Signing up for the Microsoft Fabric free trial.
• Visiting the Microsoft Fabric website.