Configuration
Unable to access a data source because the artifact is missing connection details
Power BI dataset refresh error: what it means and how to fix it.
What this means
A data source in the semantic model is not bound to a data connection, so the refresh has no connection to authenticate with. Publishing from Desktop normally binds a personal cloud connection automatically, so this usually means the binding was never created, was removed, or points at a connection the refreshing user has no permission to use.
How to fix it
- In the Power BI service, open the semantic model, choose More options then Settings, and expand Gateway and cloud connections.
- Under Cloud connections, set the Maps to dropdown for the unbound data source to the connection you want, then select Apply.
- If no suitable connection exists, choose Create a connection from the same Maps to dropdown and supply credentials.
- If the connection belongs to someone else, ask its owner to grant you User permissions on it, since that is the permission the "contact the artifact owner" wording refers to.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the "Unable to access a data source because the artifact is missing connection details" error mean?
- A data source in the semantic model is not bound to a data connection, so the refresh has no connection to authenticate with. Publishing from Desktop normally binds a personal cloud connection automatically, so this usually means the binding was never created, was removed, or points at a connection the refreshing user has no permission to use.
- How do I fix it?
- In the Power BI service, open the semantic model, choose More options then Settings, and expand Gateway and cloud connections. Under Cloud connections, set the Maps to dropdown for the unbound data source to the connection you want, then select Apply. If no suitable connection exists, choose Create a connection from the same Maps to dropdown and supply credentials. If the connection belongs to someone else, ask its owner to grant you User permissions on it, since that is the permission the "contact the artifact owner" wording refers to.
- 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.
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.