What causes UserErrorOdbcInvalidQueryString?

The custom query string contains syntax not supported by the target ODBC driver or data source. Special characters or escape sequences in the query string are not properly formatted for ODBC. The query references tables, views, or columns that do not exist or are misspelled. An incorrect query type (e.g., DDL instead of DML) was used in a context that only accepts SELECT statements

How do I fix UserErrorOdbcInvalidQueryString?

Step 1: Open the ADF activity run details and copy the exact query string that was sent to the ODBC driver for review.. Step 2: Validate the query independently in a local ODBC client or query tool connected to the same data source to confirm it executes without errors.. Step 3: Check for unsupported SQL syntax specific to your ODBC driver — some drivers have limited SQL dialect support and may not accept subqueries, CTEs, or certain functions.. Step 4: Escape or remove any special characters (semicolons, quotes, brackets) that may be misinterpreted by the ODBC layer.. Step 5: If using a parameterized query, verify that all parameter placeholders are in the correct format expected by the driver (e.g., '?' vs. named parameters).

Medium severitydata formatAzure Data Factory →

Power BI Refresh Error:
UserErrorOdbcInvalidQueryString

What does this error mean?

Error code 9611 (UserErrorOdbcInvalidQueryString) is raised when Azure Data Factory cannot parse or execute the query string provided to an ODBC-based connector. The query string is either malformed, contains unsupported syntax, or references objects that do not exist.

Common causes

1The custom query string contains syntax not supported by the target ODBC driver or data source
2Special characters or escape sequences in the query string are not properly formatted for ODBC
3The query references tables, views, or columns that do not exist or are misspelled
4An incorrect query type (e.g., DDL instead of DML) was used in a context that only accepts SELECT statements

How to fix it

1Step 1: Open the ADF activity run details and copy the exact query string that was sent to the ODBC driver for review.
2Step 2: Validate the query independently in a local ODBC client or query tool connected to the same data source to confirm it executes without errors.
3Step 3: Check for unsupported SQL syntax specific to your ODBC driver — some drivers have limited SQL dialect support and may not accept subqueries, CTEs, or certain functions.
4Step 4: Escape or remove any special characters (semicolons, quotes, brackets) that may be misinterpreted by the ODBC layer.
5Step 5: If using a parameterized query, verify that all parameter placeholders are in the correct format expected by the driver (e.g., '?' vs. named parameters).

Frequently asked questions

Will retrying the pipeline automatically resolve this error?

No — this is a deterministic error caused by an invalid query string. The pipeline will fail on every retry until the query string is corrected.

How do I find which query string ADF is sending to the ODBC driver?

Enable diagnostic logging on the ADF pipeline and inspect the copy activity input in the activity run details; the exact query string passed to the ODBC source will be visible there.