Manual setup of Power BI Desktop can slow down rollouts, but an unattended deployment keeps installs consistent and support overhead low. This guide is built for IT admins who need a reliable, repeatable way to deploy Power BI Desktop from Microsoft Corporation using the verified silent install command. It also covers practical considerations for machine-user installs, admin requirements, and detection rule planning so the package fits cleanly into Intune, SCCM, or PDQ deployment workflows.
Quick snapshot: Silently install Power BI Desktop on Windows
Run in an elevated PowerShell session:
Add-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -PackagePath "Microsoft.MicrosoftPowerBIDesktop_2.155.756.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix" -DependencyPackagePath "Microsoft.VCLibs.110.00.UWPDesktop.appx","Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop.appx","Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop.appx" -SkipLicenseOverview
| Application | Power BI Desktop |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.155.756.0 |
| Publisher | Microsoft Corporation |
| Installer type | MSIX / Store app |
| Install scope | Machine + User |
| Requires admin | Yes |
| Silent install | Available |
| Silent uninstall | Available |
| Detection method | MSIX package family |
| Installer file | Microsoft.MicrosoftPowerBIDesktop_2.155.756.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix |
| Download | Power BI Desktop package (installer + dependencies, ZIP) |
Silent install steps
Power BI Desktop installs through a PowerShell command, so run it in an elevated PowerShell session. Command Prompt cannot run this cmdlet.
Install with PowerShell
- Download or stage the installer (
Microsoft.MicrosoftPowerBIDesktop_2.155.756.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix) to a local folder, for exampleC:\Installers. The download below is a ZIP containing the installer plus its dependency packages — extract it into the folder so all files sit together. The install references them via-DependencyPackagePath.
- Open PowerShell as Administrator — right-click Start (or press Win+X), then:
- On Windows 10: choose Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- On Windows 11: choose Terminal (Admin) — it opens Windows Terminal running PowerShell.
- Run the silent install command:
Add-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -PackagePath "Microsoft.MicrosoftPowerBIDesktop_2.155.756.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix" -DependencyPackagePath "Microsoft.VCLibs.110.00.UWPDesktop.appx","Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop.appx","Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop.appx" -SkipLicensePS C:\> Set-Location 'C:\Installers'PS C:\Installers> Add-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -PackagePath "Microsoft.MicrosoftPowerBIDesktop_2.155.756.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix" -DependencyPackagePath "Microsoft.VCLibs.110.00.UWPDesktop.appx","Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop.appx","Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop.appx" -SkipLicenseInstalling Power BI Desktop 2.155.756.0…Installation complete — exit code 0.PS C:\Installers> ▋
Deployment Notes
Key facts to confirm before rolling this out to production machines — permissions required, scope of install, and reboot behavior.
| Requirement | Administrator privileges required |
|---|---|
| Install scope | Machine + User |
| Restart behavior | No restart expected |
Detection Rules
Configure your deployment tool with the detection rule below to confirm a successful install of Power BI Desktop. The same rule work for Microsoft Intune, SCCM, PDQ Deploy, and most RMM platforms — just paste the values into the matching fields.
MSIX detection
Silent Uninstall Steps
Remove Power BI Desktop silently from one machine or your entire fleet. The commands below uninstall without prompts and suppress automatic reboots so you control the timing.
Uninstall with PowerShell
Power BI Desktop is removed through a PowerShell command (Command Prompt cannot run it).
- Open PowerShell as Administrator.
- Run the silent uninstall command.
Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object { $_.PackageName -like 'Microsoft.MicrosoftPowerBIDesktop_*' } | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -OnlineDeployment Examples
Drop the snippet below into your deployment tool, Group Policy, or scheduled task. It wraps the silent install command for Power BI Desktop as a PowerShell script — copy, save, and run.
PowerShell script example
Save the following content as install-power-bi-desktop.ps1 in the same folder as the installer.
Set-Location -Path $PSScriptRoot
$Installer = 'Microsoft.MicrosoftPowerBIDesktop_2.155.756.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix'
Add-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -PackagePath $Installer -DependencyPackagePath "Microsoft.VCLibs.110.00.UWPDesktop.appx","Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop.appx","Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop.appx" -SkipLicense
exit $LASTEXITCODEFrequently asked questions
Can I silently install Power BI Desktop on Windows?
Do I need administrator privileges to install Power BI Desktop?
Will installing Power BI Desktop restart the computer?
Add-AppxProvisionedPackage does not cause a reboot. The package is then registered for all users at the next sign-in.How do I verify Power BI Desktop installed successfully?
How do I silently uninstall Power BI Desktop?
Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage together with the package full name.Which deployment tools support these commands?
Troubleshooting
If the install fails, exits with a non-zero code, or leaves no trace on the target machine, work through the checks below. Most issues come down to permissions, paths, or exit code handling.
| Run as administrator | Make sure Command Prompt or PowerShell is opened as Administrator. This installer writes to a machine-wide location and will fail silently without elevated permissions. |
|---|---|
| Verify the installer file name | Confirm that the installer file name matches the command shown in this guide: Microsoft.MicrosoftPowerBIDesktop_2.155.756.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.msix. |
| Run from the correct folder | Run the command from the folder that contains the installer file. For batch or PowerShell deployments, place the script and installer in the same folder. |
| Check exit codes | If the installer returns a non-zero exit code, review the installer log or your deployment tool's logs. Some packages use additional success exit codes. |
| Restart if required | If the application does not appear immediately after installation, sign out and sign back in, or restart the device — this refreshes Start menu shortcuts, file associations, and Path entries written by the installer. |
| Validate detection rules | If your deployment tool reports the app as not installed, verify that the detection rule matches the installed version, MSI product code, registry key, or file path. Use the Detection Rules section above to confirm whether the application was installed successfully. |
