Install Power BI on Mac (2025 Guide)

The ultimate, up-to-date guide for running Microsoft Power BI Desktop on macOS.

Quick Navigation:

1. Check Your Mac’s Processor

  1. Click the Apple icon () at the top left of your screen.
  2. Select About This Mac.
  3. In the window that appears:
    • If you see Intel (e.g., “Intel Core i5/i7/i9”), your Mac has an Intel processor.
    • If you see Apple M1, M2, or M3, your Mac uses Apple Silicon.
Tip: Write down your processor type, you’ll need it for the next steps.

2. Choose the Right Virtual Machine (VM)

  1. For Intel Macs:
  2. For Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3):
    • Best: Parallels Desktop (fully supports Windows ARM)
    • Free: UTM (open-source, more manual, slower graphics)
  3. Why? Power BI requires Windows. The VM lets you run Windows apps on your Mac in a separate window.
Note: Apple Silicon Macs require the ARM version of Windows. Parallels makes this easy, but UTM is a free alternative.

3. Download the Right Windows ISO

  1. Go to the official Microsoft Windows download page:
  2. For Apple Silicon: Download Windows 11 ARM Insider Preview.
    • You’ll need a (free) Microsoft account to sign up for the Windows Insider Program.
  3. For Intel Macs: Download Windows 10/11 ISO (x64).
Tip: Save the ISO file somewhere easy to find, such as your Downloads folder.

4. Install Your Virtual Machine

  1. Install your chosen VM app:
    • Parallels Desktop: Download from Parallels Website. Open the downloaded .dmg file, then double-click Install Parallels Desktop. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete installation (drag icon to Applications if prompted).
    • VMware Fusion Player: Download from VMware Fusion Website. Open the .dmg, double-click Install VMware Fusion, follow the installation assistant, and move to Applications if asked.
    • UTM: Download from UTM Website (click “Download Latest”). Open the .dmg and drag the UTM icon to Applications.
  2. Open the VM app from your Applications folder.
  3. Create a new virtual machine for Windows:
    • Parallels Desktop:
      1. Click File → New or click + New on the home screen.
      2. Choose Install Windows or another OS from a DVD or image file (not the “Get Windows from Microsoft” option, unless you wish to download directly).
      3. Click Continue.
      4. Parallels will usually auto-detect your Windows ISO. If not, click Choose Manually and select your downloaded ISO.
      5. Click Continue.
      6. Choose Install Windows (recommended), then Continue.
      7. For configuration:
        • Name: Enter a name (e.g., "Windows 11 for Power BI").
        • Location: Accept default or select custom folder.
        • Customize before installation: (Optional, but you can click this to adjust RAM/CPU now.)
      8. Click Create.
      9. When VM settings appear (if you chose to customize), set:
        • CPU: At least 2 cores (4+ is better if available).
        • RAM: At least 4 GB (8 GB if your Mac has 16 GB+ RAM).
        • Disk: At least 40 GB.
        Click Close to save settings.
      10. Click Continue to start the VM. Windows installation will begin.
    • VMware Fusion Player:
      1. Click File → New.
      2. Select Install from disc or image, then click Continue.
      3. Click Use another disc or disc image, find your Windows ISO, select it, then click Open and Continue.
      4. Choose Legacy BIOS (for Windows 10), or UEFI (for Windows 11), then Continue.
      5. For “Choose a Virtual Disk,” select Create a new virtual disk, click Continue.
      6. Set Maximum disk size to at least 40 GB and select Split into multiple files (recommended).
      7. Name the VM (e.g., "Windows for Power BI") and click Finish.
      8. The VM summary window will appear. Click Customize Settings if you wish to set RAM/CPU:
        • Processors & Memory: Assign at least 2 cores and 4 GB RAM.
      9. Close the settings. Click the play/start button (▶) to boot the VM and begin Windows installation.
    • UTM:
      1. Open UTM. Click the + (Create a New Virtual Machine).
      2. Choose Virtualize (not Emulate) if using Apple Silicon and Windows ARM ISO.
      3. Select Windows, then click Next.
      4. Under System tab:
        • Architecture: aarch64 (for Apple Silicon) or x86_64 (for Intel Macs).
        • Assign at least 4 GB RAM, more if you can.
        • CPU Cores: 2 or more.
      5. Under Drives tab:
        • Click Import Drive or New Drive for your main hard disk. Make it at least 40 GB.
        • Click New Drive → Removable → Select your Windows ISO.
      6. Click Save or Create.
      7. Select your new VM in UTM, then click Play to start. Windows installation will start.

    4. If Windows Cannot Find a Hard Disk (UTM VirtIO Driver Fix for UTM Users)

    If you are installing Windows in UTM and get to the screen that says “Where do you want to install Windows?” but no drives appear (and Windows asks you to “Load driver”), you need to load the VirtIO storage driver manually. Here’s how:

    1. Shut down the VM if Windows installation is stuck on the “Load driver” screen:
      • In the UTM window, click the stop or power button to turn off the VM.
    2. Download the VirtIO driver ISO:
    3. Add the VirtIO ISO as a second CD/DVD drive in your UTM VM settings:
      • Open UTM and select your Windows VM (do not start it yet).
      • Click the Settings (gear) icon for the VM.
      • In the sidebar, go to Drives.
      • Click New Drive.
      • For “Interface,” select USB or IDE (either is fine for a CD/DVD).
      • For “Type,” select Removable.
      • Click Browse and select the virtio-win.iso you downloaded.
      • Click Save or OK to apply the changes.
    4. Start your Windows VM again.
      • Click Play in UTM.
      • Wait for the Windows Setup screen to appear.
      • Proceed until you see the screen: “Where do you want to install Windows?”
      • No drives will be listed—click Load driver.
    5. Load the VirtIO driver inside Windows Setup:
      • In the “Load driver” dialog, click Browse.
      • In the file browser, you’ll see several drives. Look for the VirtIO driver disk. This will usually be labeled as CD Drive (D:) or E:. The name may show as virtio-win.
      • Double-click the CD Drive for VirtIO.
      • Drill down into the folders (step-by-step):
        • Open the vioscsi folder.
        • Open the folder for your Windows version:
          • For Windows 11 or 10 (64-bit), use amd64.
          • For ARM builds, look for arm64 if present.
      • Select the .inf file in that folder (it may be called vioscsi.inf or similar), and click OK or Next.
      • Windows Setup will now load the driver.
    6. Your virtual hard disk should now appear in the list of drives.
      • Select the drive and click Next to continue installing Windows as normal.
    Tip: If the drive still does not appear, make sure you selected the correct vioscsi or viostor driver for your Windows version. Try repeating the browse steps. For ARM-based Windows, always look for the arm64 driver.
  4. Continue with Windows installation inside the VM:
    1. When the Windows setup screen appears, choose your language, time, and keyboard (default options are usually fine), then click Next.
    2. Click Install now.
    3. If asked for a product key, click I don't have a product key to proceed (you can activate Windows later).
    4. Select the Windows edition you want (e.g., Windows 11 Home or Pro), then click Next.
    5. Accept license terms and click Next.
    6. For installation type, select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
    7. Select the unallocated drive (your virtual disk), then click Next.
    8. Windows will copy files and install (this takes 10–30 minutes, depending on your Mac).
  5. After installation, Windows will restart automatically. Follow the setup prompts:
    • Choose your region and keyboard layout.
    • Connect to your network (if prompted).
    • Create or sign in with a Microsoft account (required for Power BI).
    • Create a user account and password as needed.
    • Accept or skip privacy/customization options as you prefer.
  6. Configure VM settings for best performance (if not already done):
    • RAM: 4 GB minimum (8 GB+ recommended if you have enough Mac RAM).
    • CPU: 2 cores minimum (4+ recommended).
    • Disk: 40 GB or more.
Note: You do not need to enter a Windows product key to use Windows for testing. You can activate later or use without activation with minor limitations.
Note: You might see a message saying Windows needs to be activated. For most uses, you can run Windows without activation, but there will be a watermark and some personalization features will be disabled. Activation is required for a permanent, fully functional installation.
To activate: Purchase a Windows license and enter your product key in Settings > System > Activation.

5. Set Up Windows in Your VM

  1. Follow Windows setup prompts (region, language, Microsoft account, etc.).
  2. Once at the Windows desktop, connect your VM to the internet (should work automatically).
  3. Install VM Tools for best performance:
    • Parallels: Install Parallels Tools (automatic prompt).
    • VMware Fusion: Install VMware Tools (menu: “Virtual Machine” → “Install VMware Tools”).
    • UTM: Installs drivers automatically, but 3D graphics may be limited.
  4. Optional: Set the display to “Scaled” mode to fit your Mac screen.
Note: You might see a message saying Windows needs to be activated. For most uses, you can run Windows without activation, but there will be a watermark and some personalization features will be disabled. Activation is required for a permanent, fully functional installation.
To activate: Purchase a Windows license and enter your product key in Settings > System > Activation.

6. Install Power BI Desktop

  1. Open Microsoft Edge (or any browser) inside your Windows VM.
  2. Go to: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/desktop/
  3. Click Download Free.
  4. Run the downloaded installer:
    • Accept the default options.
    • After installation, launch Power BI Desktop from the Start menu.
  5. Sign in with your Microsoft account (or create one for free).
Tip: Pin Power BI Desktop to your Windows taskbar for quick access.

7. Tips and Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Extra Steps

If you run into any problems during installation, check this section for solutions. Each step is explained in detail so you can solve most issues on your own.

  1. Windows asks for a product key:
    • During Windows setup, you may see a screen asking for a product key.
    • If you do not have a key, click the option that says “I don’t have a product key” (sometimes shown as “Skip” or “Do this later”).
    • You can finish installing Windows without a key. Windows will still work, but you will see a watermark on the desktop, and you cannot change some personalization settings.
    • If you need a fully activated copy, you can purchase a Windows license and enter the key later in Settings.
  2. The VM freezes or gets stuck during installation:
    • If your virtual machine stops responding or stays on one screen for a long time (over 10 minutes), stop the VM by clicking the Power or Stop button in your VM app.
    • Wait until the VM is fully shut down.
    • Restart the VM and try again from the last step you completed.
    • If this happens more than once, delete the VM (in the app, right-click and choose “Delete” or “Remove”), and create a new one from the beginning, making sure you follow every setup step carefully.
    • Make sure both the Windows ISO and the VirtIO ISO (for UTM) are properly attached in the VM settings before starting again.
  3. No internet connection in Windows after install:
    • If Windows cannot connect to the internet inside the VM:
    • For UTM users: You need to manually install the network driver from the VirtIO ISO.
    • In Windows, open This PC or File Explorer, then double-click the VirtIO CD drive (it may show as D: or E: and be named “virtio-win”).
    • Open the NetKVM folder.
    • Choose the folder for your version of Windows: amd64 for most users, or arm64 for ARM Windows.
    • Right-click the .inf file and choose Install. If this option does not appear, open Device Manager in Windows, find the network device (it may have a yellow warning symbol), right-click and choose Update Driver, then select Browse my computer for drivers and point it to the NetKVM folder on the VirtIO CD.
    • Once installed, your network should start working. You can test it by opening Microsoft Edge and browsing to any website.
    • For Parallels or VMware: Make sure you have installed the Parallels Tools or VMware Tools when prompted after Windows boots up for the first time. These packages enable network and copy-paste features.
  4. Cannot drag and drop or copy files between Mac and Windows:
    • For Parallels or VMware: After Windows starts for the first time, you should see a prompt to install Parallels Tools or VMware Tools. If you do not see a prompt, check the app’s menu for an option like “Install Tools” or “Install Parallels Tools.”
    • Follow the instructions to install these tools. Once installed, you will be able to drag and drop files, and use copy-paste between Mac and Windows.
    • For UTM: Drag-and-drop and copy-paste are limited. If you need to move files, use a cloud storage service (such as Google Drive or OneDrive). Save files to the cloud on one system and access them from the other.
  5. Windows in the VM is slow or laggy:
    • Shut down the VM completely (do not just suspend or close the window).
    • Open your VM app and go to the settings for your Windows VM.
    • Increase the amount of RAM to at least 4 GB (8 GB or more if your Mac has enough memory).
    • Increase CPU allocation to at least 2 cores (4 if available and your Mac can spare it).
    • Close settings, restart the VM, and try again.
    • Close all other heavy programs on your Mac while using the VM to give it more resources.
  6. Power BI installation fails or crashes:
    • Open Settings in Windows, go to Update & Security, and run Windows Update to install all available updates.
    • Restart the VM after updates.
    • Try downloading the latest Power BI installer again from the official Microsoft site inside the VM.
    • If Power BI still does not open, make sure you have installed all available VM tools (Parallels Tools, VMware Tools, or VirtIO drivers for UTM).
    • If using an ARM-based version of Windows, be aware that some Power BI features might not work. Most basic features, including report creation, should work.
  7. Screen size in Windows VM is too small or too large:
    • In Windows, right-click on the desktop and select Display settings.
    • Under Scale and layout, adjust the scale (for example, try 125% or 150%) and screen resolution until the display looks correct for your screen.
    • In Parallels or VMware, you can also use the app’s View menu to select “Scaled” or “Best for Retina Display” for a better fit.
    • In UTM, use Windows display settings as above.
  8. VM won’t boot from the Windows ISO (black screen or “No bootable device”):
    • Shut down the VM.
    • Go into the VM settings and check the list of attached drives.
    • Make sure the Windows ISO is attached and set as the first boot drive.
    • If not, remove and re-add the ISO, or move it up in the boot order (if your VM app allows).
    • Restart the VM. If the problem remains, re-create the VM and carefully follow each step in the guide.

FAQ