Microsoft 365 Message Center Archive

MC1215073 - Power BI Report metadata defaults to Power BI Enhanced Report format (PBIR)

Message ID

MC1215073

View in Message Center

Service

Power BI

Published

Jan 8, 2026

Tag

Feature update
User impact
Admin impact

Summary

Starting January 25, 2026, Power BI reports will default to the Enhanced Report format (PBIR), improving source control and collaboration. Existing reports convert to PBIR upon editing. Power BI Desktop adopts PBIR in March 2026. Admins can opt out during Preview via tenant settings; no immediate action required.

More information

Introduction

Starting January 25, 2026, all new reports created in the Power BI service will use the Power BI Enhanced Report format (PBIR) by default. Existing reports will automatically convert to PBIR when edited and saved. Power BI Desktop will adopt PBIR as the default format with the March 2026 release.

The PBIR format is designed to improve source control compatibility and enable modern development practices such as continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD). It also supports collaborative development and allows AI agents and scripts to programmatically create, edit, and manage Power BI reports. Learn more in the PBIR documentation.

When this will happen:

January 25, 2026

How this affects your organization:

  • Who is affected: Power BI developers using the Power BI Project (PBIP) file format and Fabric Git integration.
  • What will happen:
    • Report metadata will now be saved in PBIR format, replacing the previous PBIR-Legacy format that relied on a single JSON file.
    • PBIR is more compatible with source control systems, improving versioning and collaboration.
    • Users working with PBIX files will not see changes in their workflow, but report metadata inside PBIX will also use PBIR.
    • PBIR remains in Preview; this update makes PBIR the default before general availability (planned for later in 2026).
    • Admins can opt out during the Preview by disabling the tenant setting: “Automatically convert and store reports in the Power BI enhanced metadata format (PBIR).”

What you can do to prepare:

  • No immediate action is required unless you want to opt out.
  • If opting out, disable the Admin Tenant Setting in the Power BI Admin portal.
  • Review internal documentation and update any references to report metadata formats.
  • Communicate this change to your Power BI development teams.

Learn more: Microsoft Power BI Updates Blog: PBIR will become the default Power BI Report Format – Get Ready for the Transition

Compliance considerations:

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.