How to Stop Power Query Refreshes from Running in a Loop in Excel
Question details
Users need to prevent Power Query from entering a continuous refresh loop or making repeated API requests when opening a workbook.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening an Excel workbook with multiple connected data queries, particularly when it is shared with new users who have different default privacy settings.
- Observed behavior
- Power Query repeatedly refreshes data or makes continuous API requests in an endless loop, often triggered by default or misconfigured privacy levels.
Ensure your Excel workbook is saved and that you have the necessary credentials to authenticate all external data sources linked to your queries before modifying privacy settings.
Configure Data Source Privacy Settings and Permissions
Set explicit privacy levels for your data sources to prevent Excel from constantly re-evaluating query combinations and triggering a loop.
Power Query privacy settings prevent unauthorized data leakage by evaluating how sources combine. When these levels are mismatched or undefined, Excel may repeatedly request data, causing a loop.
Open Excel and navigate to the Data tab on the ribbon. Click on Get Data and select Data Source Settings from the dropdown menu.
Select the relevant data source from the list and click the Edit Permissions button at the bottom.
Under the Privacy Level dropdown, assign the appropriate level (e.g., Public, Organizational, or Private) based on the confidentiality of the data.
Click OK and then Close to apply the settings. Manually refresh your queries to verify that the infinite refresh loop has stopped.
Review Query Dependencies and Self-References
Ensure that queries are not referencing each other in a circular manner, which inherently triggers infinite refresh loops.
Provide Privacy Configuration Guides for New Users
Since privacy settings are specific to the user and device, sharing a workbook without instructions may cause the loop to reappear for new users.
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- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package.
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- 3. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and seamlessly open your existing Excel workbooks to analyze your data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Power Query keep asking for credentials or privacy levels?
This happens when the privacy levels for combined data sources are not explicitly defined. Power Query continuously prompts for these settings to prevent unauthorized data leakage between different sources.
Are Power Query privacy settings saved in the workbook for everyone?
No, privacy levels are generally user-specific and machine-specific. When a new user opens a shared workbook, Excel relies on their local default settings, which is why setup instructions are necessary for new users.
Can I turn off the Power Query privacy level checks entirely?
Yes, you can disable privacy checks by going to Data > Get Data > Query Options > Privacy, and selecting 'Always ignore Privacy Level settings'. However, this is only recommended if you fully trust all data sources involved.
What causes a circular reference in Power Query?
A circular reference occurs when Query A relies on the output of Query B, while Query B simultaneously relies on the output of Query A. This creates an infinite loop where neither query can finish loading.
