This is the easiest path for Windows users. It ensures your software stays updated automatically every month. Open the app on your Windows PC. Search for "Power BI Desktop" . Click Get or Install .
Installing Power BI Desktop from the is the recommended approach for individuals and most business users. To proceed, open the Microsoft Store on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer, search for "Power BI Desktop," and click Install .
Don't overthink it. Start with the free Desktop download today. Build something ugly. Iterate. Then, when it's beautiful, pay the $10 to share it. That is the smartest $10 your business will spend this month. microsoft power bi pro desktop download
| Feature | Power BI Desktop (Free) | Power BI Pro (Paid License) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Build data models and create reports. | Publish, share, and collaborate on reports online. | | Installation | Desktop software for Windows. | Web-based service (accessed via browser). | | Primary User | Report creators, analysts, data modelers. | Business users who consume and interact with shared reports. | | Sharing | Cannot share reports directly from the desktop. | Can share dashboards and reports with other licensed users. | | Cost | Free (no license required). | ~$14.00 USD per user/month (billed annually). |
The main area in the center where you build and arrange your visualizations. This is the easiest path for Windows users
If the installer closes unexpectedly or throws a file corruption error, clear your browser cache, download the file again, and verify the file size matches the size listed on Microsoft's server.
While the download and desktop modeling are free, you cannot share your reports securely with colleagues or create apps without a . Download and install the desktop app as shown above. Search for "Power BI Desktop"
Yes, Power BI Desktop is 100% free forever. There are no time-limited trials, no feature restrictions, and no watermarks on any of the free features. Microsoft's business model is based on selling Pro and Premium licenses for the cloud service, not the desktop authoring tool.
Open your web browser and visit the official Microsoft Power BI Downloads page.
Mac users can still run the application by using Boot Camp to set up a Windows partition or by using a virtual machine solution like Parallels Desktop.
No. Power BI Desktop is built strictly for Windows OS. Mac users can run Power BI Desktop by using a Windows virtual machine (like Parallels Desktop) or by utilizing cloud-based environments like Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop. Can I use Power BI Desktop without a Pro license?