Linking Power BI desktop to Gmail

Power BI Software & Tools
1

Dear DNA Team,

I am aware that you can link Power BI to the outlook mailbox (simple) but do you know how may I link power BI desktop to Gmail account email address?

Or do you know what I need? What Language/tools do we need to use to connect both sources of data.

Many Thanks,

Mateusz

2

Hello @Matty,

Thank You for posting your query onto the Forum.

Well, if you’re looking for sign-up process using Gmail ID/Account than that’s not possible since Power BI supports only work or school email address. Below is the screenshot as well as article on this provided for the reference -

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image1047Ă—403 39.1 KB

But if you’re looking to to load and visualize Gmail data in Power BI than it’s possible. I’m providing the below that will guide you through the process.

Also providing few of the links of the videos if helps you.

Hoping you find this useful and meets your requirements that you’ve been looking for. :slightly_smiling_face:

Thanks and Warm Regards,
Harsh

https://www.reddit.com/r/PowerBI/comments/49ojjp/connect_gmail_to_powerbi/

1 Like
3

Here are the main methods to connect Gmail data to Power BI:

  1. Use a third-party connector:
  • The CData Power BI Connector for Gmail allows you to create real-time visualizations of Gmail data in Power BI Desktop14.
  • This connector uses ODBC to link your Power BI reports to operational Gmail data4.
  1. Implement a custom solution:
  • Use Power Automate (formerly Microsoft Flow) to save Gmail data to a folder or database that Power BI can access5.
  • Set up a workflow where Power Automate checks for new emails, saves them to a designated location, and then triggers a Power BI dataflow refresh5.
  1. Use IMAP protocol:
  • In Power BI Desktop, you can use the IMAP connector to access Gmail data6.
  • You’ll need to set up an app password for your Gmail account and use the IMAP server settings for Gmail6.
  1. Utilize third-party integration platforms:
  • Services like Zapier or Onlizer can be used to connect Gmail with Power BI27.
  • These platforms can automate the process of extracting data from Gmail and sending it to a format that Power BI can easily ingest.

When implementing any of these solutions, keep in mind the following limitations:

  • Real-time data updates may not be possible, and manual refreshes might be required8.
  • There may be usage limits on the Gmail API that could affect data retrieval in Power BI8.
  • The process can be more complex compared to native integrations, potentially requiring additional setup and maintenance.

It’s important to note that while these methods can work, they are not officially supported by Microsoft for Power BI. Always ensure you comply with your organization’s data security policies when accessing and analyzing email data.