Question

Why am I getting a 401 Unauthorized error when renaming a Power BI dataflow using the Power BI REST API, and how can I fix it?

When attempting to rename a Power BI dataflow using the Power BI REST API, I encounter a 401 Unauthorized error. What are the common causes of this issue, such as missing permissions, authentication errors, or incorrect API request formats? How can I troubleshoot and resolve this to successfully rename a dataflow?

Answer 1

A 401 Unauthorized error when renaming a Power BI dataflow via the REST API is usually due to missing permissions or authentication issues.

Common Causes & Fixes

 Missing API Permissions – Ensure Dataflow.ReadWrite.All is granted in Azure AD and Admin Consent is applied.
 Invalid Access Token – Obtain a fresh OAuth2 token using the correct client credentials.
Insufficient Workspace Access – Ensure the service principal or user has Admin/Contributor rights in the Power BI workspace.
 Incorrect API Request – Use PATCH with the correct URL:

PATCH https://api.powerbi.com/v1.0/myorg/groups/{groupId}/dataflows/{dataflowId}

Include Authorization: Bearer {access_token} and a valid JSON body:

{ "name": "NewDataflowName" }