High severitycredentials

Power BI Refresh Error:
Unable to Connect. Details: "Invalid connection credentials"

What does this error mean?

The gateway can reach the data source but authentication was rejected. The stored credentials in the gateway data source configuration are incorrect or expired.

Common causes

1The password for the gateway data source credential was changed but not updated in Power BI
2The database user account was disabled or locked in the source system
3Windows credentials for a network share are no longer valid
4An OAuth token for a cloud data source has expired
5The username format is wrong — database expects 'domain\user' but only 'user' was entered

How to fix it

1In Power BI Service → Settings → Manage gateways, select the data source and click 'Edit credentials'.
2Re-enter the current credentials carefully, paying attention to the username format (domain\user vs user@domain).

Beyond the docs

Common practitioner solutions not covered in the official documentation.

1Verify the service account is still active and not locked in Active Directory or the source database
2Test the credentials manually: connect from the gateway machine using SSMS or File Explorer with the same credentials
3If using Windows authentication, ensure the gateway service account has access, not just your personal account

Frequently asked questions

Does this error affect all users or just the dataset owner?

All users — scheduled and manual refreshes run under the credentials stored in the dataset settings, not individual user accounts.

Can expired OAuth tokens cause this error?

Yes — if the data source uses OAuth (SharePoint, Dynamics 365, Azure), the token expires periodically and must be re-authorized by the dataset owner.

Will this error clear itself after I update the credentials?

Yes — once you re-enter valid credentials in the dataset settings, the next refresh (scheduled or triggered manually) will succeed.

How do I know which dataset is using which credentials?

Go to Power BI Service → Settings → Datasets → Data source credentials for the affected dataset. Each connection shows the credential type and the account it's stored under.

Source · learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/service-gateway-onprem-tshoot