Table of Contents
Summary
- New reports in Power BI will default to the PBIR format, enhancing compatibility with source control and modern development practices.
- Existing reports will automatically convert to PBIR upon editing and saving.
- Users working with PBIX files will not experience workflow changes, but metadata will utilize the PBIR format.
- Admins can opt out of the PBIR format during the Preview by adjusting a specific tenant setting in the Power BI Admin portal.
- No immediate action is needed unless opting out, but communication of this change to development teams is recommended.
Admin Impact: Low
User Impact: Low
Release Start: 25 Jan 2026
Release End: 31 Mar 2026
Services: Power BI
Category: Stay informed
Tags: Feature Update, User Adoption, Admin Action
History
1/8/2026 Item Added to Message Center
Microsoft Message
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.