Power Bi Mock Interview Questions
Top 50+ Power Bi Interview Questions and Answers (Latest 2025)
1. What is Power BI?
Power BI is a business analytics tool developed by Microsoft that helps you turn multiple unrelated data sources into valuable and interactive dashboard. It a data visualization tool or software which is used for creating a dashboard.
or
Power BI stands for Power Business Intelligence and refers to a set of software tools and connectors that help you transform data from multiple sources into actionable insights.
2. Why should we use Power BI?
Power BI provides an easy way to connect, change, and visualize their raw business data from many different sources and turn it into actionable insights that makes it easy to make smart business decisions.
3. Difference between Power BI and Tableau.
Tableau and Power BI are the current IT industry’s data analytics and visualization tools. Yet, there are a some significant differences between them.
Tableau | Power BI |
| Tableau uses MDX for measures and dimensions | Power BI uses DAX for calculating measures |
| A Product of Salesforce company | A Product of Microsoft |
| Tableau is capable of handling large volumes of data | Power BI is qualified only to handle a limited amount of data |
| Mac OS support | Not suitable for Mac OS. Only work with Window OS. |
| Tableau User Interface is complicated | Power BI User Interface is comparatively simpler |
| Tableau is capable of supporting the cloud with ease. | Power BI finds it difficult, as its capacity to handle large volumes of data is limited. |
4. Difference between Power Query and Power Pivot (Data Modelling).
The differences between Power Query and Power Pivot are explained as follows:
Power Query | Power Pivot |
Power Query, you can locate data sources, make connections, and then shape that data (for example remove a column, change a data type, or merge tables, remove duplicate values, remove errors) etc. | Create relationships between tables. |
| Power Query is an ETL(Extract ,Transform and Load ) service tool. | Power Pivot is an in-memory data modeling component. |
5. What is Power BI Desktop.
Power BI Desktop is a free, powerful application from Microsoft used for creating reports and data visualizations. It allows users to transform raw data into actionable insights through interactive visualizations, data modeling, and reporting. Here are key features and aspects of Power BI Desktop:
Key Features:
- Data Connection: Power BI Desktop allows users to connect to a wide variety of data sources, including Excel, SQL Server, web data, cloud services like Azure, Google Analytics, and others.
- Data Transformation (Power Query): Using Power Query, users can clean and transform data, such as removing duplicates, filtering, and merging tables, to get it into the desired format.
- Data Modeling(Power Pivot): Power BI Desktop provides features for creating relationships between tables, building calculated columns and measures (using DAX – Data Analysis Expressions), and organizing data into models.
- Interactive Visualizations: It supports a wide range of visualizations like bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, scatter plots, maps, and custom visuals, which users can drag-and-drop onto the report canvas.
- DAX (Data Analysis Expressions): DAX is the formula language used in Power BI Desktop to create calculated columns, measures, and aggregations for advanced calculations.
- Reports and Dashboards: Users can design interactive reports with multiple pages and share them within their organization via Power BI service or export them as PDFs or images.
- Power BI Service: After creating reports, you can publish them to Power BI Service for sharing, collaboration, and access to reports on the web or mobile devices.
- Support Coding: Power BI allows integration with Python and R for advanced analytics and custom visualizations.
6. What is Power Pivot?
Power Pivot in Excel focused on creating data models, relationships, and using DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) for advanced calculations.
7. What is Power Query?
Power Query in Power BI is a powerful tool for data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL). It allows you to connect to various data sources, clean, shape, and transform data before loading it into the Power BI data model. Power Query is one of the core features in Power BI, helping you prepare your data for analysis and reporting.
8. Does Power Bi require coding?
No, Power Bi does not require coding. Power Bi is a visual analytics platform that allows users to create visualizations and perform complex data analysis without coding.
9. Describe SSBI.
SSBI stands for Self-Service Business Intelligence. It refers to the ability of business users (without technical expertise) to analyze and report on data on their own, using tools that allow them to interact directly with the data and generate insights without heavy reliance on IT or data professionals.
Common SSBI Tools:
- Power Bi
- Tableau
- Qlik Sense
- Google Data Studio
10. What is DAX?
DAX stands for Data Analysis Expressions. DAX is a powerful tool for creating calculated columns, measures, and calculated tables.
It is a function in power Bi like Sum() , Average() , Max() , Min() etc.
11. What are Filters in Power BI?
Filters allowing you to control which data is included in your reports and visualizations. Filters help to refine and narrow down the data that is displayed based on specific criteria, making it easier to focus on relevant insights.
- Visual Level Filters
- Page Level Filters:
- Include/Exclude filters
- Drill-down filters
- Report Level Filters:
- Drill through filters
- Top N Filters
12. What are Custom Visuals in Power BI?
Power BI provides a Custom Visuals Marketplace (available in Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service) where you can browse, download, and import pre-built visuals. The only difference is that it develops using custom visuals using a custom SDK. The languages like JQuery and JavaScript are used to create custom visuals in Power BI.
13. What is Get Data in Power BI?
Get Data is a simple icon on Power BI used to import data from various sources.
14. Mention some advantages of Power BI.
Some of the advantages of using Power BI:
- User-Friendly Interface
- Interactive Data Visualizations
- Real-Time Data Access
- Wide Range of Data Source Integrations
- Collaboration and Sharing
- Data Modeling and Transformation
15. List out some drawbacks/limitations of using Power BI.
- Data Model Size Limitations:-Power BI dataset is 1 GB for the free version and 10 GB for Power BI Pro users.
- Performance Issues with Large Datasets:-Complex data models, many relationships, and intricate DAX calculations can lead to slower report rendering and dashboard updates, especially in the Power BI Service or on less powerful machines.
- Limited Data Storage for Free and Pro Users:- Power BI’s free version has limited cloud storage capacity (1 GB per user), and Pro users have a slightly higher limit (10 GB per user). For larger datasets, you’d need to either use Power BI Premium for more storage (100 TB).
- Platform Dependent:- Designed to work with Window OS only.
- Limited Report Interaction for Power BI Service Free Users:- Free users can not share a file on power bi service.
- Data Refresh Limitations:-
- Power BI Pro: You can schedule a maximum of 8 refreshes per day.
- Power BI Premium: You can schedule up to 48 refreshes per day.
16. Name the different connectivity modes available in Power BI?
Connectivity modes that determine how Power BI interacts with data sources, specifically how data is imported and how updates are handled.
- Import Mode:
Power BI imports the data from a data source and stores it in memory. This mode is the most common and offers the best performance because all the data is loaded into Power BI’s internal data model. - Direct Query:
In Direct Query Mode, Power BI does not import the data into its memory but instead queries the data directly from the source each time you interact with the report. The data remains in the source system (e.g., SQL Server, Azure SQL, or other databases), and Power BI sends queries to the source on-demand.
- Live Connection Mode:
Live Connection Mode is similar to Direct Query but specifically applies to certain types of data models, such as SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) or Azure Analysis Services. In this mode, Power BI connects directly to the Analysis Services data model without importing any data, and queries are sent live to the source.
17. What are the various types of refresh options provided in Power BI?
- Manual Refresh (Power BI Desktop)
- Scheduled Refresh (Power BI Service)
- On-Demand Refresh (Power BI Service)
- Incremental Data Refresh- only refreshing new or changed data rather than the entire dataset. Incremental refresh requires Power BI Pro or Power BI Premium.
18. Name the data sources can Power BI can connect to?
- Databases:– SQL Server (on-premises or in the cloud), Azure SQL Database, Oracle Database, MySQL Database
- Cloud Data Services:-Google Analytics, Salesforce (CRM data), Dynamics 365 (including Customer Engagement, Finance, Operations), Microsoft Exchange (Email data)
- File Formats:- Excel Files (XLSX, XLSM, XLSB), CSV Files, XML Files, JSON Files
- Online Services & APIs:- Facebook (Facebook Ads, Insights), Twitter (Tweets, trends), YouTube (Analytics, video data)
19. What is a dashboard in Power BI?
A dashboard is a collection of multiple visualizations reports.
20. Explain how relationships are defined in Power BI Desktop?
In Power BI Desktop, relationships between tables can be established either automatically or manually.
- Automatic Relationships:-Power BI automatically creates relationships when it detects potential connections between tables.
- Manual Relationships:- Manual relationships are those that you explicitly define between tables. Power BI allows you to create, edit, and manage relationships.
21. What is the CALCULATE function in DAX?
It modifies the filter context of an expression and allows you to perform calculations with specific filters or conditions applied.
CALCULATE (<expression>, <filter1>, <filter2>, ...)
22. Where is data stored in Power BI?
Summary of Storage Locations:
- Power BI Desktop: Local file (.pbix).
- Power BI Service: Cloud storage, using datasets, dataflows, and direct queries.
- Azure Services: Data can be stored in Azure SQL, Blob Storage, or other Azure services.
- On-premises: Data remains in on-premises sources when using the On-premises Data Gateway or Power BI Report Server.
23. What is row-level security?
Row-level security limits the data a user can view and has access to, and it relies on filters. Users can define the rules and roles in Power BI Desktop and also publish them to Power BI Service to configure row-level security.
24. What are the different views available in Power BI Desktop?
- Report View – In this view, users can add visualizations and additional report pages and publish the same on the portal.
- Data View – In this view, data shaping can be performed using Query Editor tools.
- Model View – In this view, users can manage relationships between tables.
25. What are the various versions of Power BI?
- Power BI Desktop (Free)
- Power BI Service (Power BI Online, Cloud-Based)
- Power BI Pro (Paid Version of Power BI Service)
- Power BI Premium (Enterprise-Level Version)
- Power BI Mobile
26. Explain the building blocks of Microsoft Power BI.
- Visualizations:- Visualization is the process of generating charts and graphs for the representation of insights on business data.
- Datasets:- A dataset is the collection of data used to create a visualization, such as a column of sales figures. Dataset can get combined and filtered from a variety of sources via built-in data plugins.
- Reports:- The final stage is the report stage. Here, there is a group of visualizations on one or more pages. For example, charts and maps are combined to make a final report.
- Dashboards:– A Power BI dashboard helps you to share a single visualization with colleagues and clients to view your final dashboard.
- Tiles:- A tile is an individual visualization on your final dashboard or one of your charts in your final report.
27. What are the critical components of the Power BI ?
- Power Query
- Power Pivot
- Power View
- Power Map
- Power Q&A
28. Define bi-directional cross filtering.
Bidirectional Cross Filtering in Power BI refers to the ability to create relationships between tables that allow filtering to happen in both directions, rather than just from one table to another. This means that when you select a value in one table (e.g., a “Product” table), it filters not only the related data in the other table (e.g., “Sales”) but also the data in the first table (e.g., “Products”) based on the selected value in the second table.
29. What are the three fundamental concepts of DAX?
- Syntax
- Functions
- Context:- There are two types: row context and filter context.
30. What are some familiar sources for data in the Get Data menu in Power BI?
A few familiar data sources are Excel, Power BI datasets, web, text, SQL server, and analysis services.
31. What are the categories of data types?
- File
- Database
- Power BI
- Azure
- Online Services
- Other
32. Name some commonly used tasks in the Query Editor.
Here are some common tasks in Power Query Editor:
- Load Data
- Filter Rows
- Remove Columns
- Change Data Types
- Add New Columns
- Merge Queries
- Append Queries
- Pivot Data
- Unpivot Data
- Group Data
- Sort Data
- Replace Values
- Remove Duplicates
- Handle Missing Data
- Transform Text
- Advanced Editor (M Code)
- Rename Columns
- Error Checking
- Refresh Queries
33. What do you mean by grouping?
Grouping can help summarize information, such as calculating totals or averages, and is useful in creating more meaningful visualizations and reports.
34. Explain responsive slicers in Power BI.
A responsive slicer in Power BI refers to a slicer that automatically adjusts its layout and behavior based on the screen size and available space in the report. This feature allows the slicer to adapt to different devices and viewing experiences (e.g., desktop, tablet, or mobile), ensuring that it remains functional and visually appealing across different screen sizes.
- Introduced in Power BI Desktop (2022 updates),
- Select the slicer you want to make responsive.
- In the Visualizations pane, go to the Format section (paint roller icon).
- Look for the General tab.
- Enable the Responsive option.
35. What is query folding in Power BI?
Query folding is the ability of Power Query (in Power BI) to generate M code that can be translated into a query that the data source (like SQL Server, Oracle, etc.) can execute directly.
36. What is “M language.” in Power Bi?
M is a programming language used in Power Query as a functional, case-sensitive language similar to other programming languages and easy to use.
37. What are the major differences between visual-level, page-level, and report-level filters in Power BI?
Visual-level filters are used to filter data within a single visualization. Page-level filters are used to work on an entire page in a report, and different pages can have various filters.
Report-level filters are used to filter all the visualizations and pages in the report.
38. List the most common techniques for data shaping.
- Applying a sort order
- Pivoting and Unpivoting Columns
- Removing columns and rows
- Grouping
39. How is the Schedule Refresh feature designed to work?
Scheduled Refresh in Power BI refers to the automatic process of updating the data in your reports and dashboards at predefined intervals.
40. What information is needed to create a map in Power Map?
Power Map can display geographical visualizations. Therefore, some location data is needed—for example, city, state, country, or latitude and longitude.
41. Which in-memory analytics engine does Power Pivot use?
Power Pivot utilizes the VertiPaq engine to deliver high-performance, in-memory analytics can handle huge amounts of data, storing data in columnar databases. All data gets loaded into RAM memory when you use in-memory analytics, which boosts the processing speed.
42. Name the variety of Power BI Versions.
- Power BI Desktop: Open-Source version for Desktop users
- Power BI Services: For Online Services
- Power BI Mobile Application: Compatible with mobile devices
43. What are the different stages in the working of Power BI?
There are three different stages in working on Power BI:-
- Data Integration
- Data Processing
- Data Presentation
- Data Integration
44. Which professionals use Power BI the most?
Beginners and experts prefer Power BI in business intelligence. Power BI is used mainly by the following professionals.
- Business Analysts
- Business Owners
- Business Developers
Business Analysts
A business analyst is a professional who analyses the business data and represents the insights found using visually appealing graphs and dashboards
Business Owners
Business owners, decision-makers, or organizations use Power BI to view the insights and understand the prediction to make a business decision.
Business Developers
Business Developers are just software developers who get hired for business purposes to develop custom applications and dashboards to help the business process be smooth.
45. What gateways does Power BI have and why should you use them?
Gateways function as bridges between the in-house data sources and Azure Cloud Services.
Personal Gateway: Used only by one person, data can be imported, and is only valid on Power BI Service.
On-Premises Gateway: This is an advanced form of the Personal Gateway, supporting Direct Query and usable by multiple users to refresh data.
46. Mention some applications of Power BI
- Business Analysis
- Data Analysis
- Database Administration
- IT Professional
- Data Science
47. What are KPIs in Power BI?
In Power BI, a KPI (Key Performance Indicator) is a visual element used to display a metric’s performance against a target. KPIs are often used to represent business objectives and help users track whether specific goals are being achieved.
48. What is a Slicer?
In Power BI, a Slicer is a visual filter that allows users to interactively filter the data in a report or dashboard.
49. Explain Power BI Designer.
Power BI Designer is a tool used to create and design reports, dashboards, and visualizations within Power BI.
50. Different Types of Roles in Power BI Service.
Power BI assigns various roles to users within workspaces:
- Admin: Full access to all workspace content. Can add/remove members, publish, delete reports, etc.
- Member: Can edit and manage content but cannot add/remove workspace members.
- Contributor: Can create and edit reports, but cannot modify workspace settings or manage users.
- Viewer: Can only view content, but cannot make changes.
51. What is Gateway and Its Types in power Bi.
- Personal Gateway: Intended for a single user, used primarily for personal use, and works only with the Power BI service (no sharing).
- Enterprise Gateway: Used in organizations where multiple users need access to on-premises data sources. It supports multiple users and is designed for larger environments, supporting both Power BI and other Microsoft services like PowerApps and Microsoft Flow.
52. What are the 4 important DAX Rules?
- Using of variables
- Use of Calculate Function for filter modification
- There must be calendar dim table
- Modelling must be perfect.
53. What is semi structured data?
Semi Structured Data : Not in the form of tables but very meaningful.
Ex: Zip file, Email (Folders)
54. What is RLS (Row-Level Security) and Its Types
- RLS allows you to restrict data access for specific users, ensuring that each user only sees data relevant to them.
- Static RLS: Defines filters based on user roles. Each role is associated with a fixed filter (e.g., sales managers only see data for their region).
- Dynamic RLS: Uses DAX expressions to dynamically control access. For example, a user could only view data that corresponds to their user ID or region dynamically determined at runtime.
55. How to Provide Access to Reports to Users Outside the Organization.
- You can share reports externally using Power BI Pro licenses or Power BI Premium if the report is hosted in a Premium workspace.
- Alternatively, you can publish the report to the web (using the Publish to Web feature), but be cautious as this makes the report publicly accessible.
- Another option is using Power BI Embedded, where reports can be embedded in external applications, granting controlled access.
56. Deployment Pipelines in Power BI Service and Its Usage in Real-Time Scenario.
- Deployment Pipelines provide a structured way to promote content through development, testing, and production environments.
- Usage: In a real-world scenario, a developer can build a report in a “Dev” environment, test it in a “Test” environment, and, once approved, deploy it to the “Prod” environment, ensuring that changes are controlled and well-tested before being shared widely.
57. What Is Dataflow in Power BI Service and Why It’s Used?
- Dataflows are data transformation processes that allow you to ingest, cleanse, and transform data within Power BI Service, using Power Query online. They help in centralizing data preparation, especially when you need to reuse data transformations across multiple datasets or reports.
- Usage: Dataflows are used to standardize data preparation across reports, centralize ETL processes, and save time on repetitive data wrangling tasks.
58. Difference Between Workspace and Apps and Usage of Apps.
- Workspace: A collaborative environment where content (reports, datasets, dashboards) is created and managed. Workspace members can interact with the content based on their roles.
- App: A packaged version of content within a workspace that can be shared with users. Apps allow for publishing content (like reports or dashboards) to a wider audience without giving direct access to the workspace. Apps provide a streamlined and controlled way of sharing content externally.
59. What is the difference between BI and DA.
BI (Business Intelligence):
Focuses on collecting, visualizing, and reporting historical and current data to support decision-making.
Answers “What happened?” and “What is happening?”
Example: Monthly sales dashboards, KPIs, and performance scorecards.
DA (Data Analytics):
Explores and analyzes data to uncover patterns, trends, and insights.
Often includes predictive and prescriptive aspects to answer “Why did it happen?”, “What will happen?”, and “What should we do?”
Example: Predicting customer churn, optimizing marketing campaigns
Power BI (PBI) is primarily a Business Intelligence (BI) tool, but it increasingly incorporates Data Analytics (DA) features, making it a versatile platform that serves both purposes
