Power Query Problems

How to Change the Teams Folder Used by a Power BI Report

Phi Hung Vo Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to redirect a Power BI report to a new Microsoft Teams folder containing Excel source files without having to update each query individually.

How to Change the Teams Folder Used by a Power BI Report

Product: Power BI / Microsoft Teams
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Moving Excel source data files to a different Teams channel or SharePoint folder, requiring the Power BI dataset to reflect the new file path seamlessly.
Observed behavior: When the source folder changes, manually updating every Power BI table or query is tedious and prone to errors if parameters or global settings are not utilized.

Before you start

Ensure you have the exact root URL of the new Microsoft Teams or SharePoint folder, and verify that your Power BI account has the necessary read permissions for the new location.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Power Query Parameters to Update Folder Paths

Create a text parameter for your root Teams or SharePoint folder URL so you can change it once and update all dependent queries automatically.

Using parameters is the most robust way to handle dynamic file paths in Power BI. By replacing hardcoded URLs with a parameter, future folder migrations only require a single text update.

Open Transform Data

Open your Power BI Desktop file and click on 'Transform Data' in the Home ribbon to launch the Power Query Editor.

Create a New Parameter

Navigate to the Home tab, select 'Manage Parameters', and choose 'New Parameter'. Name it 'TeamsFolderPath', set the Data Type to 'Text', and paste your new Teams/SharePoint site URL as the Current Value.

Update Existing Queries

Select your existing data queries, open the Advanced Editor (Home > Advanced Editor), and replace the hardcoded SharePoint or Teams URL string with the newly created 'TeamsFolderPath' parameter.

Apply and Close

Click 'Close & Apply' on the Home tab to save the changes. Power BI will now refresh your data using the Excel files located in the new Teams folder.

Use Power Query Parameters to Update Folder Paths

SharePoint Folder URL Format: When connecting to a Teams folder, you must use the SharePoint Folder connector and provide the root site URL (e.g., https://yourdomain.sharepoint.com/sites/TeamName), not the specific deep link to the channel's document library.

Solution 2

Change File Path via Data Source Settings

If you are not using parameters, you can globally change the data source file path directly in the Data Source Settings menu.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Create and Manage Your Source Data with WPS Office

While Power BI handles your reporting, WPS Spreadsheet is a robust, free, and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Excel for managing and preparing your source files before uploading them to Teams. It offers seamless format compatibility, a familiar UI, and easy migration.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and click the free download button for your operating system.
2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the brief on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office.
3. Edit Excel Source Files: Open WPS Spreadsheet to seamlessly edit, clean, and save your .xlsx data files before storing them in your Teams folder.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .csv) widely used in Power BI.Lightweight and highly responsive, even when handling large datasets.Familiar interface ensures a zero learning curve for Excel users.Built-in advanced formulas and data cleaning tools to prep data for Power Query.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the correct SharePoint URL for my Microsoft Teams folder?

Go to your desired Microsoft Teams channel, click the 'Files' tab at the top, and select 'Open in SharePoint'. Copy the URL from your browser's address bar up to the site name, ignoring the specific shared document library path at the end.

Will changing the Teams folder path break my existing Power BI measures?

No. As long as the Excel source files inside the new Teams folder have the exact same structure, sheet names, and column headers, your DAX measures, relationships, and visuals will continue working perfectly after the data refreshes.

Why am I getting a credential error after changing the Teams folder in Power BI?

When you switch to a new SharePoint or Teams site, Power BI requires you to authenticate again for that specific URL. Go to Data Source Settings, select the new URL, click 'Edit Permissions', choose 'Organizational account', and sign in.

Excel & Data Problems