Enter client credentials in Power BI or Excel

Azure DevOps Services | Azure DevOps Server 2022 - Azure DevOps Server 2019

When connecting from Power BI or Excel to Analytics using the OData feed, choose Microsoft Entra ID (Microsoft Entra ID) for the most secure option. The next secure option is the use of Personal Access Tokens (PATs).

Note

The Analytics service is automatically enabled and supported in production for all Azure DevOps Services. Power BI integration and access to the OData feed of the Analytics Service are generally available. We encourage you to use it and give us feedback. Available data is version-dependent. The latest supported version is v2.0, and the latest preview version is v4.0-preview. For more information, see OData API versioning.

Why should you use a Personal Access Token over an Alternate Access Credential?

For these three reasons:

• As part of good password management, these tokens automatically expire so you don't have to remember to change your password.
• Since PATs are a generated password, you won't use a common password as part of your AAC, which means a more limited surface area for attack.
• If you need to provide a diagnostic trace and forget to replace the value, you can revoke the credential. Doing so maintains secure access to Azure DevOps.

Microsoft Entra ID

Microsoft Entra ID is also known as "Organizational Credential" in Power BI Desktop. You can use it in Power BI through OAuth selection when configuring data refresh.

1. When connecting with Power BI Desktop, you'll be prompted to enter your credentials for the data source. Select Organizational account as shown here:

   

2. Choose Sign in and enter your Microsoft Entra credentials. After that, you're done.

To change an existing URL to use Microsoft Entra ID instead of a PAT or AAC, see Change authentication credentials later in this article.

Create a Personal Access Token

1. Sign in to Azure DevOps Services, open your user profile menu, and select Security.

   

2. Enter the required information:

   • Add a description

   • Set the expiration period

   • Select the organization

   • Choose Selected scopes

   • Check the Analytics (read)

     And, then choose Create Token.

     

3. Copy the token that displays. If you navigate away from the page, you can't retrieve it later.

   

4. If you need to revoke a token, navigate to this page and choose the Revoke link. That token will immediately be denied access to Azure DevOps Services.

   These tokens are your identity. When used, the token is acting as you. Keep your tokens secret and treat them like your password. To help keep your token more secure, consider using credential managers. If you use credential managers, you won't have to enter your credentials every time you push.

Enter credentials within a client

Both Power BI and Excel work using Power Query when accessing OData. The authentication mechanism, including the various authentication screens, are identical. This walkthrough is done using Power BI Desktop. It also applies to Excel.

1. Open Power BI Desktop.

2. Choose Get Data.

3. Select OData Feed (or More>Other>OData Feed).

4. Enter the URL for the OData endpoint and choose OK.

   

5. In the authentication dialog, choose Basic, enter your credentials, and then choose Connect:

   • If you're using an AAC, enter your username and password

   • If you're using a PAT, enter a text string, such as "test" or "user" for the username and enter the token in the password field.

     

Change authentication credentials

If you receive an access denied message, you may need to change your authentication credentials. Power Query caches your credential information so you only have to enter it once. However, Personal Access Tokens expire and you may need to update or change your authentication information.

Update credentials in Power BI Desktop

1. Open Power BI Desktop.

2. Select File > Options and Settings > Data Source Settings. Select the correct URL to the OData Feed and select Edit.

   

3. In the next Data Source Settings dialog, select the Edit button under the Credentials setting.

   

4. Edit the credentials as noted above, select Save, then Done, then Close.

Update credentials in Excel

1. Open Excel and select the Data tab.

2. Select New Query > Data Source Settings...

   

3. Select the correct URL to the OData Feed and select Edit.

   

4. In the next Data Source Settings dialog, select the Edit button under the Credentials setting.

   

5. Edit the credentials as noted above, select Save, then Done, then Close.

Publish to Power BI

After you've created a model and loaded it with data, you can publish it to Power BI. When using Microsoft Entra ID or Windows, make sure to select the oAuth2 option.

Related articles

• Authenticate your identity with personal access tokens
• Access data through Excel
• Access data through Power BI desktop
• Publish a Power BI Desktop file to Power BI