Power BI: Connect SharePoint Lists

Key insights

• What it is: SharePoint lists let Power BI read structured list data directly from a SharePoint Online site for reporting.
  Use the right connector so Power BI loads list rows as a dataset instead of requiring manual downloads.
• Connector types: Use the SharePoint Online List connector for lists, the SharePoint Folder connector for files in document libraries, and avoid the older legacy SharePoint List unless required.
  Pick the connector that matches whether your source is a list or files in a library.
• How to connect: In Power BI Desktop choose Get Data → SharePoint Online List, paste the site root URL (not the full list URL), sign in, then select the list and Load or Transform data.
  Using the site root prevents common URL errors and keeps refreshes working.
• Shaping and views: Use the list’s default view to reduce metadata noise, clean columns in Power Query, and build a list form for cleaner data entry.
  Applying a proper view helps Power BI import only the intended rows and columns.
• Pitfalls and retirement: The older SharePoint “Visualize the List/Library” experience was retired on December 11, 2025; rely on Power BI Desktop connectors or the Power BI Service semantic model instead.
  Also confirm connector version (v2 had view-related issues) and check that filters, hidden columns, or views do not change what Power BI imports.
• Practical recommendation: For new reports, use the SharePoint list connector in Power BI Desktop or build a semantic model in Power BI Service so reports can refresh automatically.
  If you maintain older reports, review and migrate them before they stop working with retired features.

Keywords

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