Connect Google BigQuery as a data source in Power BI Desktop or Service for interactive reports.
Combine BigQuery’s scalable storage with Power BI’s visual layer to explore large datasets without exporting CSV files.
Create a Google Cloud project, enable BigQuery API, and ensure a Power BI Pro or Desktop installation. An email with BigQuery data-access permission is required.
1. Open Home ► Get Data ► More ► Google BigQuery.
2. Sign in with your Google account.
3. Choose the Billing Project, then browse datasets.
4.Select tables, choose Import or DirectQuery, and click Load.
Import caches data inside the .pbix file—best for small tables (<1 GB). DirectQuery leaves data in BigQuery and sends SQL on every interaction—ideal for live, large datasets.
Click Transform Data to open Power Query. Use Advanced Editor to add SQL like SELECT * FROM Orders WHERE order_date > current_date - 30
.This folds to a BigQuery job, reducing data transfer.
Yes. In Navigator, expand a dataset, pick New Source ► Blank Query, then write:let Source = GoogleBigQuery.Database(null), Orders = Source{[Name="my_project"]}[Data]{[Name="my_dataset"]}[Data], Query = Value.NativeQuery(Orders, "SELECT customer_id, SUM(total_amount) AS revenue FROM Orders GROUP BY customer_id")in Query
Publish the .pbix, then add a Google BigQuery data gateway or use the OAuth cloud connection.Schedule refresh up to 8 times/day (Pro) or 48 times/day (Premium).
• Prefer DirectQuery for tables >1GB.
• Limit visuals per page to reduce simultaneous queries.
• Aggregate in BigQuery using views or materialized views.
• Partition and cluster BigQuery tables on frequently-filtered columns.
Grant BigQuery’s BigQuery Data Viewer role to the Power BI service account. Revoke unused permissions and enable row-level security through authorized views if needed.
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Yes. Each visual run triggers SQL and charges on processed bytes. Cache visuals and use aggregated views to cut cost.
Create a text parameter in Power Query, then reference it inside Value.NativeQuery()
. Publish to Power BI and set a default in the Service.