# Download PBIX for Report created in Service ![](https://2005413847-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M4ig5W6hPwB57TAOg6q%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d37e77801d81bc9fbc34318d071085cf7514b79d%2Fdownload-pbix-report-created-in-service-222152.png?alt=media\&token=7e50b970-a0e9-4881-ba32-1f1e94e3a71c) *I've been there many times myself, and I have witnessed other people having the problem: The ability to create a new report directly in Power BI Service, connected to an existing dataset, is very powerful for its agility.* *It comes with a huge limitation, though: **The resulting report cannot be downloaded as a PBIX file**, hence cannot be edited further in Power BI Desktop, or shared or archived as a file. Sometimes, new users aren't even aware of this, invest a lot of time and energy into building beautiful reports directly in the browser, only to realize later that they are now locked in.* Here is the same problem reported in a Power BI Community Forum: * [Can't download .pbix from report on service](https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Service/Can-t-download-pbix-from-report-on-service/td-p/854601) **This article gives you a solution which works for anyone without any advanced technical skills.** It is based on two important insights: {% hint style="info" %} 1. For a report to be downloadable as a .pbix file, it must have been created in Power BI Desktop originally. 2. The `Update Report Content` API allows to swap the contents of any two reports in Power BI Service, provided they are connected to the same dataset. {% endhint %} Putting those two points together, we can come up with this process to download a report PBIX that was previously blocked from being downloaded: 1. Report `A` has been created from dataset `B` in Power BI Service, and cannot be downloaded. 2. In Power BI Desktop, create a new report `C` connected to the same dataset `B`, leave it otherwise empty, and upload it to the same workspace. This report **can** subsequently be downloaded as a .pbix file, even once edits have been made to it in the Service. 3. Use the [Update Report Content API](https://docs.microsoft.com/rest/api/power-bi/reports/updatereportcontentingroup) - which can be triggered interactively on that docs page - to update report `C` with the contents of report `A`. 4. Download report `C`, now containing all the pages, filters and visuals from the original report `A`, and make further edits in Power BI Desktop. ## Using the *Update Report Content* API The API requires a POST request to be made to this url: `https://api.powerbi.com/v1.0/myorg/groups/{groupId}/reports/{reportId}/UpdateReportContent`. `{groupId}` and `{reportId}` represent the report **to be updated**. In our case that is the one we've uploaded as an empty/dummy report from Power BI Desktop, report `C`. The request must be made with a json body like this: ```javascript { "sourceReport": { "sourceReportId": "8e4d5880-81d6-4804-ab97-054665050799", "sourceWorkspaceId": "2f42a406-a075-4a15-bbf2-97ef958c94cb" }, "sourceType": "ExistingReport" } ``` That describes the report the content is coming from, in our case report `A`. *`"sourceType": "ExistingReport"`* always has to be specified exactly like that. If both reports are in the same workspace, `sourceWorkspaceId` does not need to provided, which simplifies the format further: ```javascript { "sourceReport": { "sourceReportId": "8e4d5880-81d6-4804-ab97-054665050799" }, "sourceType": "ExistingReport" } ``` Let's start by collecting the necessary information. There are two reports in my workspace - one *Created in Service*, which cannot be downloaded, one *Created in PBI Desktop*, which can be downloaded: ![](https://2005413847-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M4ig5W6hPwB57TAOg6q%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-eb2c72645179f08a1ea199d2da31c0e4ae31bfb8%2Fdownload-pbix-report-created-in-service-230017.png?alt=media\&token=c49a9cad-b012-4b85-bbdf-1e0ea7a061ca) The *Created in PBI Desktop* report is the one to be updated. Its url is: `https://app.powerbi.com/groups/7e2f5035-afa4-49c9-8a6d-9c5fdff2245d/reports/d7de9a81-ab33-48d1-b124-0305e4a9276f/ReportSection`. Hence, I can extract: * `groupId` = `7e2f5035-afa4-49c9-8a6d-9c5fdff2245d` * `reportId` = `d7de9a81-ab33-48d1-b124-0305e4a9276f` The *Created in Service* report is the source report, and its url is: `https://app.powerbi.com/groups/7e2f5035-afa4-49c9-8a6d-9c5fdff2245d/reports/51a1cd5d-78b7-434c-8268-08d3c63882a4/ReportSection`. That gives me: * `sourceReportId` = `51a1cd5d-78b7-434c-8268-08d3c63882a4` ## Invoking the *Update Report Content* API interactively Let's navigate to the API Docs page for [Update Report Content](https://docs.microsoft.com/rest/api/power-bi/reports/updatereportcontentingroup). It has that really useful green "Try It" button: ![](https://2005413847-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M4ig5W6hPwB57TAOg6q%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ea81f8216892ed948f0d9f3338badd492d8aaab2%2Fdownload-pbix-report-created-in-service-230743.png?alt=media\&token=c60fa62d-6b28-4497-92d1-c7ad579cff36) Clicking this opens a new panel on the right with a *Sign in* button. Use that to sign in with your Power BI account: ![](https://2005413847-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M4ig5W6hPwB57TAOg6q%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a25d93c8b75f8d617f037d5f5ea0378964913eb7%2Fdownload-pbix-report-created-in-service-230933.png?alt=media\&token=52414aba-217c-4581-9f17-a3d8c94f8610) Then, simply fill in the parameters collected earlier: ![](https://2005413847-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M4ig5W6hPwB57TAOg6q%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-90d99f2bc991bd675814433eec988d086674503c%2Fdownload-pbix-report-created-in-service-231252.png?alt=media\&token=7a578c70-17c2-4c57-a251-92afa6e2f5ca) ...and click the green "Run" button below: ![](https://2005413847-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M4ig5W6hPwB57TAOg6q%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-831ff3f57998f4ca375b93a30e871d23062e0b84%2Fdownload-pbix-report-created-in-service-231334.png?alt=media\&token=068f9a74-3a15-475e-b761-13c939dd7714) If everything went well, "Response Code: 200" will be reported: ![](https://2005413847-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M4ig5W6hPwB57TAOg6q%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5b19480119d077de8649fce145a76206eeb7da8d%2Fdownload-pbix-report-created-in-service-231459.png?alt=media\&token=b1f06a8d-30ab-4166-ab09-2b6c8830855a) I can now open the report `C`, the one uploaded from Power BI Desktop earlier. It has exactly the same contents as report `A`, however, this one can also be downloaded! ![](https://2005413847-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M4ig5W6hPwB57TAOg6q%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e774ffe0809fb393c1ea6cc52a97c2c9f2a52d67%2Fdownload-pbix-report-created-in-service-231812.png?alt=media\&token=196bbde0-965d-4a17-a5d1-7dc2b9af831d) Problem solved. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://notes.mthierba.net/power-bi/how-to/download-pbix-report-created-in-service.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. 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