How Do I Run Power BI on a Mac

Last verified: June 2026. Microsoft currently distributes Power BI Desktop as a Windows application. Power BI Service remains available through modern web browsers on macOS. This article has been reviewed against Microsoft's current product documentation to ensure the information below is accurate.

Power BI Desktop is one of the world's most widely used business intelligence and data visualization tools. Organizations use it to create reports, build semantic models, analyze business data, and share insights across teams.

While Power BI Service is available through a web browser on macOS, Microsoft currently distributes Power BI Desktop as a Windows application.

For Mac users who need advanced reporting, data modeling, Power Query transformations, DAX calculations, and report creation capabilities, there are several ways to access the full Power BI Desktop experience.

This guide explains the differences between Power BI Service and Power BI Desktop, how to run Power BI Desktop on a Mac using Parallels Desktop, and which option may be the best for your workflow.

Can You Use Power BI on Mac?

Yes. Mac users can access Power BI in two ways:

• Power BI Service through a web browser on macOS.
• Power BI Desktop by running Windows alongside macOS.

Power BI Service supports viewing dashboards, sharing reports, collaborating with colleagues, and accessing analytics through a browser.

Users who need advanced functionality—including report authoring, semantic model creation, Power Query transformations, DAX calculations, and dataset management—typically use Power BI Desktop.

For many users, Power BI Service is sufficient for viewing and sharing reports. Data analysts, BI developers, finance professionals, and reporting teams generally require Power BI Desktop.

Power BI Desktop vs. Power BI Service?

Although both products are part of Microsoft's Power BI platform, they serve different purposes. The table below highlights the capabilities available in each.

In many organizations, Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service are used together. Analysts create reports and data models in Power BI Desktop, then publish them to Power BI Service, where colleagues can securely view, share, and interact with the finished reports.

Why Power BI Desktop Isn’t Available on macOS

Microsoft currently distributes Power BI Desktop as a Windows application. While Power BI Service remains available through modern web browsers on macOS, some advanced functionality continues to reside within the Windows desktop application.

According to Microsoft's documentation, Power BI Desktop is downloaded and installed as a Windows application. Users who require those capabilities can run the Windows version alongside macOS using virtualization software.

Microsoft Compatibility Note

According to Microsoft documentation, Power BI Desktop is currently distributed as a Windows application. Power BI Service remains accessible through a web browser on macOS, while users who require Power BI Desktop functionality can run the Windows version alongside macOS.

This is a Microsoft product distribution decision rather than a limitation of macOS. Mac users can continue to access Power BI workflows through the browser-based service or by running Windows applications alongside macOS.

What Can You Do With Power BI Service on a Mac?

For many users, Power BI Service provides everything they need for day-to-day reporting and collaboration.

Using Power BI Service through a web browser on macOS, you can:

• View dashboards and reports
• Monitor KPIs and business performance
• Share reports with colleagues
• Collaborate within workspaces
• Filter and interact with report visuals
• Receive report subscriptions
• Access published datasets
• Review business insights from virtually anywhere

Because Power BI Service runs entirely in the browser, it does not require Windows or additional software to get started. However, users responsible for creating reports, transforming data, building semantic models, or publishing new analytics content will typically need Power BI Desktop.

Does Power BI Service Replace Power BI Desktop?

Not entirely.

Power BI Service and Power BI Desktop are designed to work together, but they serve different purposes. Power BI Service is a browser-based platform that's ideal for viewing dashboards, sharing reports, collaborating with teammates, and accessing published analytics from virtually anywhere. If your role is primarily consuming reports or monitoring business performance, Power BI Service may provide everything you need.

Power BI Desktop is the primary application for creating and maintaining Power BI content. It's used to connect to data sources, perform Power Query transformations, build semantic models, write DAX calculations, and design reports before publishing them to Power BI Service.

A typical workflow looks like this:

• A BI developer builds a report in Power BI Desktop.
• The report is published to Power BI Service.
• Business users, managers, and executives access the report through their web browser to review insights and collaborate.

If your work involves creating reports rather than simply viewing them, you'll typically need Power BI Desktop in addition to Power BI Service. The next step is choosing the best way to run Power BI Desktop on your Mac.

Which Power BI Option Is Right for Mac Users?

The best option depends on your role and workflow.

Choose Power BI Service if you:

• Primarily view reports and dashboards
• Monitor KPIs and business performance
• Share analytics with colleagues
• Consume published reports
• Collaborate on existing content
• Don't need to create or edit reports

For many business users, executives, and stakeholders, Power BI Service provides everything needed to access and interact with business intelligence through a web browser.

Choose Power BI Desktop if you:

• Create reports from scratch
• Build semantic models
• Transform data with Power Query
• Write DAX measures and calculations
• Connect to multiple data sources
• Develop business intelligence solutions
• Create or edit PBIX files
• Publish reports to Power BI Service
• Manage enterprise reporting workflows

Many organizations use both products together. Analysts and BI developers create reports in Power BI Desktop before publishing them to Power BI Service, where colleagues can access dashboards and reports through their browser.

How to Install Power BI Desktop on a Mac with Parallels Desktop

If you need the full Power BI Desktop experience on your Mac, one of the simplest approaches is to run Windows alongside macOS using Parallels Desktop.

Unlike remote desktop solutions or cloud PCs, Parallels Desktop runs Windows locally in a virtual machine, allowing Windows and macOS applications to work side by side without restarting your Mac.

This approach lets you use Power BI Desktop while continuing to work in macOS applications such as Safari, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and Finder.

Step 1: Install Parallels Desktop

Download and install Parallels Desktop on your Mac.

Parallels Desktop creates a virtual machine that allows Windows to run alongside macOS. You can switch between Windows and Mac applications instantly, copy and paste between operating systems, drag and drop files, and share folders without rebooting.

Step 2: Install Windows

Use Parallels Desktop to install Windows.

On Apple silicon Macs—including M1, M2, M3, and newer chips—Parallels Desktop can automatically download and configure Windows, making setup straightforward even if you've never installed Windows before. Once Windows is installed, you'll have access to the full Windows desktop directly from your Mac.

Step 3: Download Power BI Desktop

After Windows is installed:

1. Open Windows.
2. Visit Microsoft's official Power BI Desktop download page.
3. Download and install Power BI Desktop.
4. Complete the installation using Microsoft's setup instructions.

Once installed, Power BI Desktop works just as it would on a Windows PC.

Step 4: Launch Power BI Desktop

Open Power BI Desktop and begin:

• Building reports
• Creating semantic models
• Performing Power Query transformations
• Writing DAX calculations
• Connecting to data sources
• Publishing reports to Power BI Service

Because Windows runs alongside macOS, you can continue using your favorite Mac applications while Power BI Desktop runs in Windows.

Does Power BI Desktop Work on Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes. Power BI Desktop doesn't have a native macOS version, but Mac users with Apple silicon systems—including M1, M2, M3, and newer processors—can run the Windows version of Power BI Desktop using Parallels Desktop.

Parallels Desktop is optimized for Apple silicon and supports Windows 11 on Arm, allowing you to run Windows applications while continuing to use macOS. For analysts, developers, finance professionals, and operations teams, this provides access to the complete Power BI Desktop experience without changing hardware.

Performance Considerations for Modern Macs

Modern Macs offer excellent performance for virtualization, especially when paired with Apple silicon processors.

Power BI Desktop performance depends on three primary factors:

• Your Mac's hardware (CPU, memory, and storage)
• The resources allocated to your Windows virtual machine
• The size and complexity of the datasets you're working with

For most users, Power BI Desktop performs smoothly for report authoring, dashboard development, data modeling, and DAX calculations when Windows is running locally through Parallels Desktop.

Best Practices for Performance

To get the best experience:

• Allocate sufficient CPU cores and memory to your Windows virtual machine.
• Store active PBIX files on your Mac's internal SSD whenever possible.
• Use shared folders to access files seamlessly between macOS and Windows.
• Keep both Windows and Power BI Desktop updated.
• Install the latest Parallels Desktop updates for ongoing compatibility and performance improvements.

These practices can help improve report responsiveness, data refresh times, and overall productivity.

Run Power BI Desktop on Your Mac

If you rely on Power BI Desktop for reporting, data modeling, analytics, or business intelligence development, running Windows alongside macOS provides access to the complete desktop experience without giving up your Mac.

With Parallels Desktop, you can:

• Run Power BI Desktop and macOS applications side by side.
• Switch instantly between Windows and macOS.
• Copy and paste content across operating systems.
• Share files between Windows and Mac applications.
• Work without rebooting your computer.

Whether you're an individual analyst, a consultant, or part of an enterprise BI team, Parallels Desktop makes it easy to use Power BI Desktop on your Mac.

Ready to get started?

• Individual users: Start a 14-day free trial or purchase Parallels Desktop online to begin running Power BI Desktop on your Mac.
• Businesses and IT teams: Contact our sales team to discuss volume licensing, centralized deployment, and enterprise management options for your organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use Power BI on a Mac?

Yes. Mac users can use Power BI in two ways:

• Power BI Service, which runs in a web browser on macOS.
• Power BI Desktop, by running the Windows version alongside macOS using virtualization software such as Parallels Desktop.

Power BI Service is suitable for viewing dashboards, collaborating with colleagues, and accessing published reports. Users who need to create reports, transform data, build semantic models, or write DAX calculations typically use Power BI Desktop.

Is Power BI Desktop available for macOS?

No. Microsoft currently distributes Power BI Desktop as a Windows application and does not offer a native macOS version. Mac users who need Power BI Desktop can run the Windows version alongside macOS using virtualization software. Users who only need to view and share reports can access Power BI Service through a web browser.

What's the difference between Power BI Service and Power BI Desktop?

Power BI Service and Power BI Desktop are designed for different purposes. Power BI Desktop is used to create reports, connect to data sources, perform Power Query transformations, build semantic models, and develop DAX calculations. Power BI Service is used to publish, share, view, and collaborate on reports and dashboards through a web browser.

Many organizations use both products together: reports are created in Power BI Desktop and then published to Power BI Service for broader access.

Does Power BI Service replace Power BI Desktop?

No. Power BI Service is designed primarily for viewing, sharing, and collaborating on reports. Power BI Desktop remains the primary application for report creation, data modeling, Power Query transformations, semantic model development, and advanced analytics. If your role involves creating reports or building business intelligence solutions, you'll typically need Power BI Desktop.

Do I need Power BI Desktop on a Mac?

It depends on how you use Power BI. If you primarily consume reports, monitor dashboards, and collaborate with colleagues, Power BI Service may be all you need. If you create reports, manage datasets, build semantic models, perform Power Query transformations, or write DAX measures, you'll typically need Power BI Desktop.

Does Power BI work on Apple silicon Macs?

Yes. Power BI Service works through modern web browsers on Apple silicon Macs, including M1, M2, M3, and newer models. Power BI Desktop does not run natively on macOS, but it can be run by installing Windows alongside macOS using Parallels Desktop.

Can I edit PBIX files on a Mac?

Yes, but not directly in macOS. PBIX files require Power BI Desktop for editing. To create or edit PBIX files on a Mac, you'll need to run the Windows version of Power BI Desktop. Power BI Service allows you to view and interact with published reports but does not replace the desktop application for PBIX authoring.

Is Power BI Service free?

Microsoft offers a free version of Power BI Service with limited sharing and collaboration capabilities. Organizations that require advanced collaboration, governance, and enterprise features typically use Power BI Pro or Microsoft Fabric licensing. Refer to Microsoft's official licensing documentation for the latest pricing and feature availability.