How to Export a Power BI Template File from Power BI Desktop

Introduction #

Power BI templates are a powerful way to share and reuse your Power BI reports’ layout, design, and data model without sharing the underlying data. This guide will walk you through the process of exporting a Power BI template file from Power BI Desktop.

Prerequisites #

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

• Power BI Desktop installed on your computer.
• A Power BI report that you want to export as a template.

Steps to Export a Power BI Template File #

1. Open Your Report in Power BI Desktop
   • Launch Power BI Desktop.
   • Open the report that you wish to export as a template. You can do this by selecting File > Open and navigating to your report file (.pbix).
2. Navigate to the Export Option
   • Once your report is open, click on the File menu in the upper-left corner of the Power BI Desktop window.
3. Select Export to a Template
   • From the File menu, hover over the Export option to expand the submenu.
   • Click on Power BI template (.pbit) from the export options.
4. Save the Template File
   • A Save As dialog box will appear. Choose the location where you want to save the template file.
   • Enter a name for your template file in the File name field.
   • Click the Save button.
5. Provide Template Metadata (Optional)
   • After clicking Save, a dialog box may appear prompting you to enter a description and other metadata for the template.
   • Fill in the necessary information (e.g., template description, author name, etc.).
   • Click OK to finalize the export process.

Verifying the Template File #

To ensure that your template file has been exported correctly, navigate to the location where you saved the file. You should see a .pbit file with the name you specified.

Using the Template File #

To use the exported template file:

• Open Power BI Desktop.
• Select File > Import > Power BI template.
• Navigate to the location of your template file, select it, and click Open.

Conclusion #

Exporting a Power BI template file from Power BI Desktop is a straightforward process that enables you to share the design and structure of your reports without exposing any data. This guide provided step-by-step instructions to help you export your Power BI report as a template. By following these steps, you can efficiently create and share reusable Power BI templates within your organization.

For further assistance, refer to the official Power BI documentation.