How can you refresh data in Power BI reports?

Refreshing data in Power BI reports is essential for ensuring that users have access to the most up-to-date information. The correct method to refresh data involves utilizing the Refresh option available in both the Power BI Service and Power BI Desktop. This process updates the datasets in the report to reflect any changes made to the data source, making it an effective way to synchronize visualizations with the current state of the underlying data.

Using the Refresh option initiates a query to retrieve the most recent data, allowing users to see the latest insights without having to manually intervene in the data management process. It ensures that any changes made in the original data source—whether that's a database, Excel file, or another service—are reflected in the Power BI report.

Alternative methods that do not effectively refresh the data include clearing the cache in your browser, which may assist with loading times or display issues but does not affect the data being shown in the report. Restarting the Power BI application might refresh the interface but does not refresh the data itself. Exporting data to Excel does not refresh the report; it simply allows users to pull a snapshot of the current data in its exported format without updating the actual report content in Power BI. Thus, utilizing the Refresh option is the most direct and