Power BI Desktop breaks Snowflake refresh for some analysts
Reviewed by Helen Jones
A Fabric Community issue posted on 9 June 2026 reports Power BI Desktop version 2.155.756.0 failing to refresh Snowflake data with a cannot-convert-null-to-text style error while Power BI Service refresh still works. The thread was still active on 17 June 2026 and includes a suggested workaround around the optional passphrase field, with a July fix expected in community replies.
Before this, report builders could usually treat Desktop refresh and Service refresh as related checks for the same connector setup. If both failed, they would look at credentials, query changes, gateway settings, or the source system. This report is awkward because the failure may appear only in Desktop. That can send an analyst down the wrong path, rebuilding queries or changing credentials, when the safer first move is to check the Desktop version and compare it with the Service refresh result.
Analysis
If Snowflake refresh fails locally after the June 2026 Desktop update, confirm whether the same dataset still refreshes in Power BI Service. Capture the Desktop version and error, then test the passphrase workaround or roll back before rebuilding the report.
Source note
Pulse published by Collab365 Spaces, reviewed by Helen Jones on . Cite as "Power BI Desktop breaks Snowflake refresh for some analysts", Collab365 Spaces. 1 source referenced.