本地Power BI Desktop开发数据存储位置及PBIX文件安全咨询

Where does Power BI Desktop store its internal tabular model? #

Great question! When building reports in Power BI Desktop:

• If you import data (the most common workflow), the entire tabular model—including all your actual data—is embedded directly in your .pbix file. This is the primary persistent storage for your imported data between sessions.
• While you’re actively editing, Power BI uses temporary cache files on your local machine (typically in %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Power BI Desktop\Cache), but these are cleared when you close the app and aren’t a long-term storage solution.
• If you use a live connection (e.g., to SQL Server or Analysis Services), the .pbix only stores report visuals and connection details—no data is saved in the file itself; data is fetched in real time from the source when you interact with the report.

Does sharing a .pbix file (via network share or email) expose sensitive data? #

It depends on how you connected to your data:

• Imported data scenario: Yes, the .pbix file contains a full copy of all imported sensitive data. Anyone with access to the file can open it in Power BI Desktop and view, export, or extract the data directly—even if they don’t have permission to the original source. This poses a clear information leak risk if shared with unauthorized users.
• Live connection scenario: The .pbix doesn’t store the data itself, so sensitive info isn’t embedded. However, it does include connection strings; if you saved credentials in the file, they’re encrypted, but it’s still a detail to keep in mind.

Can I save a .pbix file without data to avoid leaks? #

Absolutely—here are three reliable methods:

1. Save as a Power BI Template (.pbit):
   • Go to File > Save as > Power BI Template.
   • This creates a .pbit file that retains all your report visuals, model schema, measures, and connection settings—but removes all imported data. When someone opens the template, they’ll be prompted to refresh or connect to the source to populate the model, so no sensitive data is included in the shared file.
2. Disable data saving in the .pbix:
   • Navigate to File > Options and settings > Options > Data Load.
   • Check the box labeled "Do not save data with the file", then save your .pbix. The file will no longer contain imported data; every time you open it, you’ll need to refresh to pull data from the source. This setting applies per file, so you’ll need to enable it for each file you want to share without data.
3. Temporarily clear data before saving:
   • For a quick fix, go to Home > Transform data > Clear All Data. This removes all imported data from your current session, and saving the file immediately will result in a .pbix without data. Note: Next time you open the file, you’ll need to refresh to reload the data.

The template method is the most intentional and reliable for sharing, as it’s designed specifically for this use case.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者DatumPoint