Easy Tech TutsHow to Check Data Source Details in Power BI Easily 2026
By Impran M N
Taking over a corporate dashboard project or troubleshooting a broken query link means figuring out exactly where every connection points. Power BI's Data Source Settings workspace and Power Query dependencies map let you audit connection origins, file paths, and server credentials without clicking through every query step blindly.
01Open Data Source Settings
From the main File options menu in Power BI Desktop, launch the Data Source Settings screen to see all connections mapped inside your report.
02Review connection origins
Check the list of disparate cloud endpoints, local file paths, and SQL servers cataloged under this single metadata panel.
03Edit permissions or change paths
Update secure access permissions or change file directories directly from this screen without breaking your applied transformation steps.
04Use the Power Query dependencies map
Open the interactive dependencies view to trace how individual queries relate to each other and to their original data source.
05Evaluate gateway assignments
Check which data gateway, if any, is assigned to each connection, which matters for scheduled cloud refresh.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find a report's data source list?
Open the File menu in Power BI Desktop and select Data Source Settings to see every connection used in the report.
Can I change a file path without breaking my queries?
Yes, updating a source path through Data Source Settings preserves your existing applied transformation steps.
What does the dependencies map show?
It visually maps how individual Power Query steps and tables relate to each other and trace back to their original source.
Why would I need to audit data sources on an inherited report?
Auditing helps you understand hidden connections and credentials before making changes to a dashboard you didn't originally build.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
