Question

Power BI published to web reports are extremely slow to load? How we can fix this?

I'm working on a project where Power BI reports published to the web are extremely slow to load. I understand that this could be due to large datasets, complex visuals, or inefficient data models. However, I’m looking for guidance on how to identify and fix these issues efficiently. Are there specific strategies or best practices for optimizing performance, such as reducing file size, simplifying visuals, or optimizing server configurations in a Premium Per Capacity setup? Additionally, are there tools or methods, like Fiddler or Apidog, to trace the publishing process and detect any network-related issues? Any insights on how to improve the report load times would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

When dealing with the web-published Power BI report that is taking long to load, the first thing to do is check into the following:

Reduce the Size and Complexity of the Report: This is applicable for large PBIX files designed with complex data structures and contains too many visuals. These might contribute to slow performance. Get rid of the excess columns, tables, or visuals, and redesign the complex operations or DAX measures into simpler ones. Also, while this dataset does not help with other data selection, it may help to lessen the amount of the dataset by vertical or horizontal chopping.

Experiment with Different Networks: Publish the report to a new device or network to see if network issues can be eliminated. If the report is quicker to load in another network, the local network could be the problem.

Investigate Server Setup: If Power BI Premium is installed, the server configuration in Premium Per Capacity may also impact performance. Always ensure that your organization has enough capacity provisioned to support report loads and look for possible restrictions on server resources.

Trace Publish Operation using Fiddler/Apidog: Set up and use tools to follow regions such as Fiddler or Apidog to follow the publishing operation and check whether there are any ports or requests being cut off. This is useful in troubleshooting if the problem lies in the network or some services that are being blocked, affecting the report's performance.

It will be possible to enhance the effectiveness of Power BI reports published on the web by addressing all these aspects.