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Power BI Refresh Error:
DbtVersionConstraintError

What does this error mean?

The installed dbt version does not satisfy the require-dbt-version constraint defined in dbt_project.yml or in an installed package, blocking project execution.

Common causes

  • 1The project or a package specifies a minimum dbt version that is newer than the installed version
  • 2A dbt Cloud environment is pinned to an older dbt version while the project was updated to use newer syntax
  • 3The require-dbt-version range excludes the currently installed version due to a strict upper bound
  • 4Multiple packages specify conflicting dbt version constraints that cannot be satisfied simultaneously

How to fix it

  1. 1Step 1: Check the error message for the required version range and compare with dbt --version.
  2. 2Step 2: Upgrade dbt to a version within the allowed range, or update require-dbt-version in dbt_project.yml.
  3. 3Step 3: For dbt Cloud, update the environment dbt version setting under Account Settings > Environments.
  4. 4Step 4: If a package has a conflicting constraint, check the package's CHANGELOG for which version loosened the constraint and upgrade the package in packages.yml.
  5. 5Step 5: Run dbt debug after upgrading to confirm the version constraint is satisfied.

Frequently asked questions

What syntax does require-dbt-version support?

You can specify a single version (">=1.5.0"), a range (">=1.5.0,<2.0.0"), or a list of acceptable versions. Semver operators >=, >, <, <=, and != are all supported.

Does upgrading dbt break existing projects?

Major version upgrades (e.g., 1.x to 2.x) may include breaking changes. Always review the dbt migration guide and run dbt compile against a development environment before upgrading production.

Other configuration errors