Have you ever tried to create a map in Power BI only to see an error instead of your visualization? If your Power BI maps are not working, you’re not alone. By default, some map and filled map visuals may be disabled due to security settings. The good news? With a few quick adjustments, you can enable maps in Power BI Desktop or, if needed, in your organization’s tenant settings.
In this guide, we’ll walk through:
- Why Power BI maps are disabled by default
- How to fix maps in Power BI Desktop
- How Power BI admins can enable maps for the entire tenant
- Security considerations when using Bing-powered maps
Why Power BI Maps Are Disabled
Power BI’s map and filled map visuals rely on Bing Services (powered by Bing and TomTom). Because this requires sending location data outside of Power BI, Microsoft places the setting under Security options.
Here’s what you need to know:
- If you only use latitude and longitude, no data is sent.
- If you use city, state, or other fields, that data is shared with Bing/TomTom.
- For filled maps, all location data is shared, even if it’s just lat/long.
If your organization has strict data privacy policies, this might be restricted by default.
How to Enable Maps in Power BI Desktop
If you’re working locally and seeing disabled maps:
- Open Power BI Desktop.
- Go to File > Options and Settings > Options.
- Under Security, find Map and Filled Map Visuals.
- Check the box to enable them.
- Click OK and reload your visuals.
For many users, this instantly fixes the issue
Power BI Admin: Enabling Maps for the Tenant
If maps are still restricted after changing desktop settings, the Power BI Admin Portal controls may be blocking them.
Steps for admins:
- Go to powerbi.com and sign in.
- Open the Admin Portal from the gear icon.
- In the left-hand panel, search for Map.
- Toggle Map and Filled Map Visuals to ON.
- Click Apply to enforce this for the entire organization.
This applies tenant-wide, so all users will be able to use maps.
Success: Using Maps in Your Reports
Once enabled, both the Map and Filled Map visuals should work:
- Zoom in/out with your mouse.
- Click states, cities, or regions to filter your report.
- Combine filled maps and standard maps for deeper analysis.
Alternatives: Azure Maps
If your organization is concerned about third-party data sharing, you can also use Azure Maps within Power BI. This option keeps data within Azure and provides advanced mapping capabilities.
Key Takeaways
If your Power BI maps are not working, it’s usually due to security settings that block Bing-powered visuals. By enabling maps in Desktop or through the Admin Portal, you can quickly resolve the issue. Always check your organization’s data policies before sharing location data externally, and consider Azure Maps if security is a priority.
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