Managing Power BI on mobile devices is a must for any enterprise today. With Microsoft Intune, you can enforce policies that help protect sensitive business data. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to configure Power BI Intune management in five clear steps.
Whether you’re using iOS, Android, or Windows, the process is similar. We’ll focus on iOS for this demo, but you can apply the same logic across platforms.
Why Manage Power BI with Intune?
When you manage the Power BI mobile app using Intune, you gain control over:
- Data access and sharing
- App-level security
- Compliance enforcement
It also allows you to prevent users from accidentally sharing data or accessing reports without proper authorization.
Step 1: Get the App Store URL
Start by grabbing the direct App Store URL for the Power BI mobile app:
- Go to the Power BI Mobile page
- For iOS: Open the App Store, search for Power BI, and copy the app’s link
- For Android: Use the Google Play Store link
You’ll use this URL later when adding the app to Intune.
Step 2: Confirm Your Intune Setup
Before managing apps:
- Make sure you have an active Intune license
- Confirm that devices are enrolled in Intune
- Check your Mobile Device Management (MDM) Authority:
- Navigate to Mobile Device Management in Microsoft 365 Admin Center
- Ensure it’s set to Microsoft Intune with a green checkmark
Step 3: Create a Mobile Application Management Policy
This policy controls how the app behaves on mobile devices:
- In the Intune portal, go to Configuration Policies
- Click Add, select your OS (iOS or Android), and create a Mobile Application Management policy
- Set your restrictions—such as requiring a PIN for app access
Make sure to save your policy once configured.
Step 4: Add the Power BI Mobile App
Add the app to your Intune environment:
- Go to Apps > Add App
- For iOS, choose Managed iOS app from the App Store
- Paste the App Store URL you copied earlier
- Choose app category (e.g., Business), upload an icon, and complete the app details
You’ll now see Power BI listed in your app catalog.
Step 5: Deploy the App with a Policy
To roll out the app to users:
- Click Manage Deployment
- Select the user group (e.g., All Users)
- Choose Available Install to make it appear in the Company Portal
- Assign the previously created policy
- Complete the deployment
Now the Power BI mobile app is available with management enforced.
What Users See on Their Devices
On the mobile device:
- Open the Company Portal app
- Find Power BI listed under Company Apps
- Tap Install
- The app installs with all policy settings (e.g., requiring a PIN)
- Users will see a “Managed by your company” message when launching the app
Common Setup Issues
If the app doesn’t show up, double-check:
- The correct deployment method was selected (e.g., Managed iOS App, not External Link)
- Devices are properly enrolled
- The MDM authority is correctly set
Final Thoughts
Securing Power BI through Microsoft Intune is straightforward when broken into clear steps. By using a Mobile Application Management (MAM) policy, you can safeguard data without disrupting the mobile experience.
Need more help managing Power BI securely across your organization? Check out Power BI Training by Data Bear.
