Connectivity

Login timeout expired

Power BI dataset refresh error: what it means and how to fix it.

What this means

The SQL connection could not be established in time (network unreachable, firewall, or a slow server).

How to fix it

  1. Confirm the server is reachable and port 1433 is open.
  2. Verify the instance name and the SQL Browser service.
  3. Raise the connection timeout.
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Frequently asked questions

What does the "Login timeout expired" error mean?
The SQL connection could not be established in time (network unreachable, firewall, or a slow server).
How do I fix it?
Confirm the server is reachable and port 1433 is open. Verify the instance name and the SQL Browser service. Raise the connection timeout.
Where does this Power BI refresh error appear?
It appears in a Power BI semantic model's refresh history when a scheduled or on-demand refresh fails.

Related connectivity errors

Catch this automatically

RefreshRadar monitors every Power BI dataset refresh and emails you when one fails, with the likely cause and the fix, so you are not hearing about a broken refresh from your stakeholders first.