Excel and CSV files remain a valid data source for Power BI semantic models and reports. You can use them to create reports in the Power BI service from the Create page or in Power BI Desktop.
This blog post is for users who created reports using the old experience to import an Excel or CSV file from the Create page in the service. There’s no impact for users who created semantic models in Power BI Desktop.
How to identify affected semantic models
Semantic models created by the old import files experience can’t be edited in the browser or downloaded and have no options to schedule a refresh. If your semantic model can be edited in the browser, downloaded, or has a scheduled refresh option, you’re already using the new Excel and CSV connectors, and there’s no impact on your semantic model and reports.
What is changing?
Reports created using the old import Excel or CSV experience stop refreshing from their source file as of July 31, 2026. There’s no workaround or fix to keep them updated. These reports need to be recreated to continue updating. For guidance on creating reports from Excel and CSV files, refer to Get data from Excel workbook files.
These reports can still be consumed and edited, even past this date, but the data no longer stays in sync with the source Excel file.
We’re removing the old Excel and CSV import experience in Power BI service, which is currently accessible through the Create page, by May 31, 2026. The existing options for Excel and CSV, as well as Get data, continue to be available. We recommend you start using the other options for Excel and CSV files.
Figure 1: The legacy / old Excel and CSV import option is outlined in red at the bottom center of the Power BI Service Create page.
Key dates to remember
By May 31, 2026, creating new semantic models using the old import experience will no longer be supported. By July 31, 2026, any existing semantic models built with that old import experience will stop refreshing. After July 31, 2026, reports built on these semantic models display stale data. You need to recreate these reports if the data needs to be refreshable for your report to consumers.
For more details on identifying these semantic models and options to recreate your reports, refer to the Get data from Excel workbook files documentation.
Next steps
- Learn more: Review the documentation for guidance on using the current Excel and CSV connectors.
- Provide feedback: Share your thoughts in the Power BI Community.
- Submit ideas: Suggest new features at Power BI Ideas.
Thank you for being part of the Power BI community and for your continued feedback as we evolve the platform.