Power BI Enhanced Report Format (PBIR)

What is PBIR?

PBIR stands for the Power BI Enhanced Report Format. It is the new internal structure Power BI uses to store reports.
The old structure relied on a single, huge report.json file. PBIR replaces that with a clean folder layout where every part of the report has its own JSON file. That includes pages, visuals, filters, bookmarks and other settings.

The result is a report format that is easier to understand, easier to maintain and better suited for modern development workflows. PBIR is also the foundation for the upcoming PBIP project format that Microsoft is rolling out.

What are the benefits of PBIR?

Better teamwork
Because every component is separated into its own file, it’s much easier to compare changes, do code reviews and resolve conflicts. You no longer have to scroll through a massive all-in-one file.

Perfect fit for Git and DevOps
PBIR works well with version control. You can track changes per page or per visual, and use proper pull requests and branching workflows.

More transparency
The report structure is cleaner and more readable. You can see exactly how a report is built and which files map to which elements.

Future-proof
PBIR is not a dead end. Microsoft is building new features, tooling and the PBIP project structure on top of it.

What can you do with PBIR?

Edit reports outside Power BI Desktop
Developers can open individual report parts directly in a code editor like VS Code. This is great for quick edits, bulk updates or technical tweaks.

Automate report updates
Because PBIR uses clean JSON files, you can automate tasks with scripts.
Examples: replacing brand colours, updating visual properties, fixing bookmarks or enforcing standards.

Integrate reports into CI/CD pipelines
PBIR makes it possible to deploy reports just like software. You can add validation steps, quality checks, automated builds or release pipelines.

Build your own tools
The open file structure makes it easier to create custom tools for scanning, validating or modifying reports.

When do you use PBIR?

You use PBIR automatically as soon as you create or save a modern Power BI report. Power BI will convert older reports when you open them. For teams working with Git, DevOps or structured development processes, PBIR is practically required. Our advice is to always save you work as Power Bi Projects (BPIP format) and leverage the underlying PBIR format for the report elements. It opens up a lot of opportunities to automate your work and activate version control.

What does PBIR look like technically?

A PBIR report is made of folders and JSON files such as:

• pages

• visuals

• bookmarks

• filters

• report-level settings

• version.json

• definition.pbir (with a reference to the semantic model)

Everything is structured in a clear and predictable layout that is documented on Microsoft Learn.