You've built a great new report. You published it to your workspace. You clicked "Update app." And then... nothing. The report is nowhere to be found in the published app.
Don't worry — you didn't do anything wrong. This is one of the most common Power BI app issues, and it has a simple fix.
The Problem: Where's My Report?
Quick Answer
Quick Answer
Power BI apps don't automatically include new workspace content. You need to do two things:
Why This Happens
When you publish a report to a workspace, it doesn't automatically become part of the app. This is actually a feature, not a bug — it gives you control over what content is exposed to app users.
Think of it this way:
- Workspace = Your development area (everything you're working on)
- App = The curated experience you're sharing (only what you choose to include)
This separation lets you work on draft reports, test new features, or maintain older versions without exposing them to end users.
The Two-Step Fix
Add the report to the app's content list
Make it visible to your audience
Step-by-Step Fix
Step 1: Open App Settings
Navigate to your workspace and click the "Update app" button in the top toolbar.
This opens the app configuration panel where you control what's included.
Find the Update App Button
Step 2: Add Report to Content
Go to the "Content" tab in the app settings panel.
You'll see a list of all items in your workspace — reports, dashboards, and datasets. Find your new report in this list and check the box to include it in the app.
If you don't check this box, the report exists in your workspace but is completely invisible to app users.
Content Tab — Include Your Report
Select items to include in the app:
Check the box next to your new report to include it in the app.
Step 3: Set Audience Visibility
Here's where many people get stuck. Even after adding content, you need to make it visible to the right audience.
Go to the "Audience" tab in the app settings.
For each audience group you've created, you'll see a list of included content with visibility toggles. Find your new report and toggle visibility ON for the audience(s) that should see it.
If you have multiple audiences (e.g., "All Users" and "Finance Team"), you can show different content to each group.
Audience Tab — Set Visibility
Content visibility for this audience:
Toggle visibility ON for the audience(s) that should see your new report.
Step 4: Publish the Update
Click "Update app" to publish your changes.
After publishing, open the app as an end user would (from the Apps section in Power BI Service) and verify your new report appears in the navigation.
Success! Your Report is Now Visible
After clicking "Update app", your new report will appear in the published app for all users in the selected audience.
Pro Tips
Pro Tips for Publishing Apps
The Bottom Line
Power BI app content isn't automatic — it's intentional. Every report, dashboard, or item must be explicitly added to Content and enabled for the right Audience. Once you understand this two-step process, you'll never lose a report again.
Bookmark this page for the next time a report goes missing!
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