Microsoft Power BI is a collection of software services, apps, and connectors that work together to turn your unrelated sources of data into coherent, visually immersive, and interactive insights. Your data may be an Excel spreadsheet, or a collection of cloud-based and on-premises hybrid data warehouses. Power BI lets you easily connect to your data sources, visualize, and discover what's important, and share that with anyone or everyone you want. Microsoft provides an overview of Power BI.

Anyone can download the desktop version for free from Microsoft and use many features without a license.

If, while working with the desktop version, you receive an error telling you to contact your administrator, it means you've tried to use a feature that requires the licensed web version.

Our Power BI Comparison Table has more information about the features of each version.

Microsoft updates the tool frequently. Support and information for getting started with Power BI is provided by Microsoft, not through the Cornell IT Service Desk.