Configure Power BI Report Server Step by Step

Once the Power BI Report Server installation is complete, you will be ready to configure the Power BI Report Server by clicking on Configure Report Server button. When you click on the Configure Report Server button, you will be asked to connect to the Report Server.


In this section, specify a server name and select a report server instance to configure.


Configure the Power BI Report Server Service Account

  1. Provide the service account that will be used to run the Report Server service. (It’s recommended to use Network Service as a built-in account or a domain account)
  2. Click Apply to configure Power BI Report Server Service Account.


Configure the Power BI Report Server Web Service

  1. Provide the virtual directory name and the port as you prefer. or leave the default values.
  2. Click Apply to configure the Power BI Report Server Web Service URL. (Please make sure that the task is completed successfully)


Configure the Power BI Report Server Database

Before configuring the Power BI Report Server Database, you must make sure that you have a ready SQL Server instance with Database Engine installed.


  1. If the SQL Server instance is ready, click on Change Database button.
  2. Follow the Database Creation wizard, Check Create a new report server database then click Next.
  3. Connect to the database server by providing the SQL Server Instance that will host the Power BI database or the authentication type as you prefer.
  4. Provide an existing account that the Power BI service will use to connect to the Power BI Report Server database.
  5. Review the summary and click Next.
  6. Wait for a moment until the database creation is finished.


Configure the Power BI Report Server Web Portal

  1. Provide the virtual directory name and the port as you prefer. or leave the default values.
  2. Click Apply to configure the Web Portal URL.
  3. Once the web portal is configured, browse the web portal URL to make sure that the web portal is working properly.


Backup the Power BI Report Server Encryption keys

To encrypt the sensitive data in the report server database like connection strings, credentials, you should take a backup of the symmetric key. (The symmetric key backup is very significant mainly when you are planning to migrate or move to another Power BI Report Server)