Time to update PowerBI Report Server to PowerBI May 2023 update/install for PowerBI Desktop and Report Server!
Do you use PowerBI to render monitoring insights from SCOM, SolarWinds, ACAS/Tenable, ForeScout or more? In case you didn’t know, PowerBI Report Server is the on-premise solution where updates from the PowerBI Cloud Service make way to prem at least twice a year. Time to update to ‘PowerBI May 2023’ when you’re air-gapped, or just NOT to the cloud. This post is how to upgrade PowerBI Report Server and PowerBI Desktop to the latest version. This has been a few iterations in progress, and I couldn’t find any blog showing how to update these components. NOTE: MDE/Intune/MECM/EM tools can be used to package this easily enough, but it’s typically a very small subset of servers used.
Grab a snapshot of PowerBI Report Server and Desktop Before MSI update/install
Before we upgrade to ‘PowerBI May 2023 install’ MSI’s –
Open Control Panel > Programs and Features > Search for Report (and hit enter)
Check PowerBI Desktop (shows before and after!)
Open Control Panel > Programs and Features > Search for ‘power’ (and hit enter)
Begin PowerBI Desktop update
Assuming you’ve downloaded the PowerBI updates and saved to relevant servers. Check PowerBI blog here, PowerBI Report Server page for the latest version.
NOTE: The older PowerBI May2023 details and MSI download have been superseded – May 2024 download https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=105944
Open PowerShell (as Admin)
Type .\PBIDesktopSetupRS_X64.exe and hit enter
Note the Pop-up MSI installer
Confirm EULA
Click ‘I Accept’ check box and then Next to continue Desktop install
Confirm Desktop Path
I changed to secondary drive to NOT fill up C: boot disk
Click Next to begin install
Click Next to begin install
PowerBI Desktop May2023 Next
Click Finish
Click Finish to complete update
PowerBI Desktop Reboot required prompts
PowerBI desktop prompted twice for reboot required
Click OK
Prompted again for reboot
Click OK
PowerBI Report Server update
Begin PowerShell window for PowerBI Report Server exe update
Check Version prior to install
Click on Start > Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features
Type Report (and hit enter)
Verify version
PowerBI Report Server update
Check what’s installed before update
Check Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Report (hit enter)
Begin Report Server install/update
From PowerShell as Administrator window > Type .\PowerBIReportServer.exe
Hit enter
NOTE: Similar popup output to PowerBI desktop pictured below
PowerBI Desktop and PowerBI Report Server from PowerShell, Windows Server, Control Panel, Programs and Features before install
Choose Upgrade/Install PowerBI Report Server
PowerBI Report Server Upgrade/Install prompt
Accept EULA
Click on ‘I accept’ radio checkbox
Report Server update installing
Watch while PowerBI Report Server updates
PowerBI Report Server reboot required
PowerBI Report Server prompts for reboot – ‘Restart required’
Click Close to reboot server
NOTE: Optionally click on Restart. Validate PowerBI Report server service is running via services.msc, and then check the PowerBI Report Server URL specified is functional. This may still require server reboot!
Additional verification of PowerBI Report Server install
Verify PowerBI Report Server updated from Windows Control Panel
Click on Start > Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features
Type Power (and hit enter)
Verify the version number matches (unfortunately, Report Server does NOT list the version in the title)
