Hi, I'm Tom Blessing. I'm an expert at helping small to mid-sized companies adopt Power BI. I'm also a recovering investment banker, with deep experience applying technology to otherwise manual data problems. I have dual degrees in Finance and Technology Management from Indiana University.

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Encountering issues where Power BI visuals are not displaying can be frustrating.

In this blog post, I'll explore common reasons for this problem and provide troubleshooting steps to help you resolve it.

But stepping back for a second - you may feel like you need a crash course in Power BI overall, especially if you want to improve your speed and handling of creating visualizations, linking data sources, working with DAX, etc. For a short period of time, Datacamp is running a 50% off promotion on courses you should check out. I earn a small commission if you click and purchase. 

Common Reasons for Power BI Visuals Not Displaying:

1. Data Issues: One of the most common reasons for visuals not displaying is data-related problems. This can include missing or incomplete data, formatting issues, or incorrect data relationships within your dataset.  

2. Filters and Slicers: Filters and slicers can impact which data is displayed in your visuals. If they are not set correctly, they may inadvertently filter out all data, resulting in empty visuals.

3. Visual-Level Filters: Visual-level filters within Power BI visuals can affect their display. If you have applied filters to a visual that are too restrictive, it might result in no data being shown.

4. Cross-Filtering: Cross-filtering interactions between visuals can sometimes lead to unintended consequences, causing certain visuals not to display data as expected.

5. Hidden or Deleted Visuals: It's possible that visuals were accidentally hidden or deleted from your report, which would explain why they are not displaying.

6. Custom Visual Issues: If you are using custom visuals in your report, they may not be functioning correctly or may have compatibility issues with your current Power BI version.

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Data Validation: Start by validating your data. I love using Table View for this purpose because it lets me review data in the way that Power BI "sees" it. Check for missing, incomplete, or improperly formatted data. Use the Power Query Editor to clean and transform your data if necessary. 

2. Filters and Slicers: Review your filters and slicers to ensure they are correctly configured. Check if they are inadvertently restricting data. Adjust them as needed.

3. Visual-Level Filters: Examine the visual-level filters applied to your visuals. Make sure they are not overly restrictive, preventing data from being displayed. Modify the filter conditions if necessary. It's easy to see all your filters together by clicking on your visual and expanding the 'Filters' pane. 

4. Cross-Filtering: Investigate cross-filtering interactions between visuals. Adjust the interactions to ensure they are working as intended and not causing data to be hidden. If you've selected a value on one visual, it has the impact of filtering the other visuals on the page by the value you selected.  

   Pre-Filter:

     

   Post-Filter

5. Check for Hidden or Deleted Visuals: Review your report pages to see if any visuals are hidden or have been accidentally deleted. Restore or unhide them if needed.

6. Custom Visuals: If you are using custom visuals, try removing them temporarily to see if they are the source of the issue. Ensure that you are using compatible versions of custom visuals with your Power BI version.

7. Update Power BI: Ensure that you are using the latest version of Power BI, as updates often include bug fixes and improvements that can resolve issues with visuals.

Conclusion:

Power BI visuals not displaying can be frustrating, but by following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this blog post, you can identify and resolve common problems.

Data validation, proper filter and slicer configuration, and checking for hidden or deleted visuals are crucial steps in ensuring that your Power BI visuals display the insights you need to make informed decisions.

Additionally, keeping your software up to date and reviewing custom visuals can help ensure a smooth experience with Power BI.