Easy Tech TutsHow to Connect & Integrate Power BI With Dynamics 365 Easily 2026
By Impran M N
Pulling live Dynamics 365 CRM or ERP data into Power BI doesn't have to mean slow manual exports. This guide walks through using the native Dataverse connector, expanding complex lookup columns in Power Query, and publishing a report that stays current through scheduled refresh, all without needing an on-premises gateway.
01Copy your environment URL
Log into Dynamics 365, open developer settings, and copy your instance's root Environment URL string for use in Power BI.
02Connect with the Dataverse connector
In Power BI Desktop, click Get Data, select the Dataverse connector, and paste in your environment address, removing any trailing slash.
03Choose a connectivity mode and sign in
Select Import mode, click Connect, choose the Organizational Account option, and sign in with your Microsoft 365 credentials.
04Select tables and transform data
Check the boxes for your target tables in the Navigator panel, then use Power Query to expand relational lookup columns into readable text values.
05Publish and schedule refresh
Click Publish to push the report to the cloud Service dashboard, where you can configure scheduled refresh to keep the data current.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an on-premises data gateway to connect?
No, because Dynamics 365 is cloud-hosted, you can publish and refresh reports directly through the cloud Service without a gateway.
Why are some of my CRM columns showing raw codes instead of text?
This happens with option sets, picklists, and lookup fields, which need to be expanded in the Power Query editor to reveal readable values.
Should I use Import or DirectQuery mode?
Import mode gives faster performance for most reports, while DirectQuery is better if you need near real-time data without waiting for scheduled refreshes.
What if my connection fails right after pasting the URL?
Double-check that you copied only the root environment address and removed any trailing slash or extra path segments.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
