Power BI Desktop Settings I Use

Key insights

• Persist hierarchy level: Toggle found under File > Options and settings > Options > Current file > Report settings > Field parameters.
  Turn Off to restore legacy behavior so hierarchies auto-collapse when you switch dimensions; leave On if you want expand/collapse states to remain stable.


• Format pane resets and Color picker improvements: Use the visual three-dot menu to Reset all, expand or collapse categories, or reset specific groups inside a section.
  Use the improved color picker and back button to switch between theme and custom colors quickly and keep report branding consistent.


• Auto date/time: This feature creates hidden date tables for date fields, which can be convenient but may slow models or add unwanted objects.
  I recommend turning Off for production models and using a dedicated date table for clear control and better performance.


• Privacy levels: Set privacy levels for each data source to control how Power BI isolates or combines queries across sources.
  Choose strict settings for unknown or external sources; for trusted internal sources you can relax privacy to preserve query folding and speed.


• Autodetect relationships: Power BI can create relationships automatically between tables, which helps speed initial setup.
  Turn Off in complex models to avoid incorrect links; keep it On for quick prototyping with simple datasets.


• Cross filtering and visual interactions: Control how visuals filter one another using the interaction settings or cross-filter/cross-highlight options.
  Limit cross-filtering or set single-direction interactions when performance or user clarity matters, and tweak per-report as needed.

Overview of the Video and Its Purpose

In a recent YouTube video, Fernan Espejo of Solutions Abroad walks viewers through his preferred settings toggles in Power BI Desktop when starting a new project. The video highlights practical options that affect modeling, visuals, and overall report behavior, with clear timestamps that guide viewers to topics such as Auto datetime, Privacy Levels, and Autodetect relationships. Espejo frames these toggles as personal recommendations informed by years of experience, and he demonstrates where to find each option within the application. Consequently, the video serves as a brief configuration checklist for both beginners and experienced report authors.

Key Settings Explained

First, the video explains the impact of the Auto datetime feature and why some authors disable it to keep model size down and avoid hidden tables. Disabling this option can improve performance and simplify model management, but it also means analysts must build explicit date tables and relationships, which increases initial setup work. Next, Espejo covers Privacy Levels, noting how they control data isolation during queries and protect sensitive sources, yet they may add complexity when combining data across sources. Therefore, choosing a privacy level requires balancing data safety against the convenience of seamless query folding.

Visual and Formatting Toggles

Espejo highlights recent improvements around the Format pane, including granular reset controls and an enhanced color picker that streamlines theme management and visual consistency. These refinements let report authors reset entire visuals or targeted groups, which accelerates iteration and reduces the risk of inconsistent styling across pages. Moreover, the video points to the new Persist hierarchy level toggle for field parameters, explaining how it affects matrix behavior and user navigation when switching dimensions. While persistence can preserve a viewer’s context, turning it off may make dynamic reports behave more predictably by collapsing hierarchies on parameter change.

Modeling and Interaction Options

On the modeling side, Espejo discusses Autodetect relationships and its convenience for quickly building connections, but he warns that automatic joins can create incorrect relationships that later affect measures and filters. He also covers Cross filtering choices and how direction and interaction settings determine the way visuals influence each other, impacting both user experience and query complexity. Thus, while automated features speed up development, they require careful review and sometimes manual correction to ensure correct analytical outcomes. In practice, report authors should verify detected relationships and interaction behaviors during model validation to avoid subtle errors.

Tradeoffs, Challenges, and Practical Tips

Throughout the video, Espejo emphasizes tradeoffs between convenience and control: enabling automation saves time but may hide complexity, whereas manual configuration demands effort but often yields more reliable results. He suggests practical steps such as documenting chosen settings per project, using a template .pbix with preferred defaults, and testing performance implications on representative datasets. However, challenges remain, including per-file settings that do not automatically propagate across a team and the need to reconcile individual preferences with organizational governance. Therefore, teams should agree on a baseline configuration and include a short checklist in project onboarding to reduce inconsistencies.

Conclusion and Recommendations

In summary, Fernan Espejo’s video provides a clear, experience-based set of recommendations for configuring Power BI Desktop at project start, with a focus on reproducible visuals and predictable model behavior. His practical advice balances the benefits of productivity features against the need for careful validation, and he encourages viewers to adopt settings that match their use cases rather than defaulting to convenience. As a final recommendation, teams should pilot these toggles on a sample report, measure performance and usability, and then lock in a documented approach that supports collaboration and maintainability. Overall, the video is a useful primer for anyone looking to standardize their Power BI setup and reduce rework during report development.

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