Microsoft Power BI Desktop Silent Install (How-To Guide)

Microsoft Power BI is a business analytics service that aims to provide interactive visualizations and business intelligence capabilities through reports and dashboards. This article will serve as an informative guide and give you a clear understanding of how to perform a silent installation of Microsoft Power BI Desktop from the command line using the EXE installer.

How to Install Microsoft Power BI Desktop Silently

Microsoft Power BI Desktop (32-bit) Silent Install (EXE)

  1. Navigate to: https://aka.ms/pbiSingleInstaller
  2. Download the PBIDesktopSetup.exe to a folder created at (C:\Downloads)
  3. Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
  4. Navigate to the C:\Downloads folder
  5. Enter one of the following commands:
PBIDesktopSetup.exe -q -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
PBIDesktopSetup.exe -quiet -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
PBIDesktopSetup.exe -s -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
PBIDesktopSetup.exe -silent -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1

After a few moments you should see the Microsoft Power BI Desktop Shortcut appear. You will also find entries in the Start Menu, Installation Directory, and Programs and Features in the Control Panel.

Software Title:Microsoft Power BI Desktop (32-bit)
Vendor:Microsoft Corporation
Architecture:x86
Installer Type:EXE
Silent Install Switch (Option #1)PBIDesktopSetup.exe -q -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
Silent Install Switch (Option #2)PBIDesktopSetup.exe -quiet -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
Silent Install Switch (Option #3)PBIDesktopSetup.exe -s -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
Silent Install Switch (Option #4)PBIDesktopSetup.exe -silent -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
Silent Uninstall Switch #1PBIDesktopSetup.exe -q -norestart -uninstall
Silent Uninstall Switch #2 PBIDesktopSetup.exe -quiet -norestart -uninstall
Silent Uninstall Switch #3PBIDesktopSetup.exe -s -norestart -uninstall
Silent Uninstall Switch #4PBIDesktopSetup.exe -silent -norestart -uninstall
Download Link:https://aka.ms/pbiSingleInstaller
Video Tutorial:Microsoft Power BI Desktop Silent Install (How-To Guide) Video
PowerShell Script:https://silentinstallhq.com/microsoft-power-bi-desktop-install-and-uninstall-powershell/
Detection Script:https://silentinstallhq.com/create-a-custom-detection-script-for-microsoft-power-bi-desktop-powershell/

Microsoft Power BI Desktop (64-bit) Silent Install (EXE)

  1. Navigate to: https://aka.ms/pbiSingleInstaller
  2. Download the PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe to a folder created at (C:\Downloads)
  3. Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
  4. Navigate to the C:\Downloads folder
  5. Enter one of the following commands:
PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -q -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -quiet -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -s -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -silent -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1

After a few moments you should see the Microsoft Power BI Desktop Shortcut appear. You will also find entries in the Start Menu, Installation Directory, and Programs and Features in the Control Panel.

Software Title:Microsoft Power BI Desktop (64-bit)
Vendor:Microsoft Corporation
Architecture:x64
Installer Type:EXE
Silent Install Switch (Option #1)PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -q -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
Silent Install Switch (Option #2)PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -quiet -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
Silent Install Switch (Option #3)PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -s -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
Silent Install Switch (Option #4)PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -silent -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1
Silent Uninstall Switch #1PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -q -norestart -uninstall
Silent Uninstall Switch #2 PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -quiet -norestart -uninstall
Silent Uninstall Switch #3PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -s -norestart -uninstall
Silent Uninstall Switch #4PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -silent -norestart -uninstall
Download Link:https://aka.ms/pbiSingleInstaller
Video Tutorial:Microsoft Power BI Desktop Silent Install (How-To Guide) Video
PowerShell Script:https://silentinstallhq.com/microsoft-power-bi-desktop-install-and-uninstall-powershell/
Detection Script:https://silentinstallhq.com/create-a-custom-detection-script-for-microsoft-power-bi-desktop-powershell/

The information above provides a quick overview of the software title, vendor, silent install, and silent uninstall switches. The download link provided take you directly to the vendors website. Continue reading if you are interested in additional details and configurations.


Additional Configurations

Create a Power BI Desktop Installation Log File

The Power BI installer offers the option to generate a log file during installation to assist with troubleshooting should any problems arise. You can use the following commands to create a verbose log file with details about the installation.

Microsoft Power BI Desktop 32-bit Silent Install (EXE) with Logging

PBIDesktopSetup.exe -quiet -norestart -log "%WINDIR%\Temp\PowerBI-Install.log" ACCEPT_EULA=1

Microsoft Power BI Desktop 64-bit Silent Install (EXE) with Logging

PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -quiet -norestart -log "%WINDIR%\Temp\PowerBI-Install.log" ACCEPT_EULA=1

Change the Power BI Desktop Default Installation Directory

You can also change the default installation directory by using the following command line parameters. In this example, I’m installing Power BI to “C:\PowerBI”

Power BI Desktop 32-bit (EXE)

PBIDesktopSetup.exe -quiet -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1 INSTALLLOCATION=C:\PowerBI

Power BI Desktop 64-bit (EXE)

PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -quiet -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1 INSTALLLOCATION=C:\PowerBI

Exclude Power BI Desktop Shortcut During Install

The Power BI installer creates a desktop shortcut by default. If you don’t want the desktop shortcut, then you can run the following command line switches to exclude it.

Power BI Desktop 32-bit Silent Install (EXE) with No Desktop Shortcut

PBIDesktopSetup.exe -quiet -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1 INSTALLDESKTOPSHORTCUT=0

Power BI Desktop 64-bit Silent Install (EXE) with No Desktop Shortcut

PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -quiet -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1 INSTALLDESKTOPSHORTCUT=0

Disable Power BI Desktop Update Notifications

Power BI Desktop 32-bit Silent Install (EXE) with Update Notifications Disabled

PBIDesktopSetup.exe -quiet -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1 DISABLE_UPDATE_NOTIFICATION=1

Power BI Desktop 64-bit Silent Install (EXE) with Update Notifications Disabled

PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -quiet -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1 DISABLE_UPDATE_NOTIFICATION=1

Disable Power BI Desktop Customer Experience Program

This setting disables the customer experience program that captures telemetry on usage of the product.

Power BI Desktop 32-bit Silent Install (EXE) with CXP Disabled

PBIDesktopSetup.exe -quiet -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1 ENABLECXP=0

Power BI Desktop 64-bit Silent Install (EXE) with CXP Disabled

PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -quiet -norestart ACCEPT_EULA=1 ENABLECXP=0

How to Uninstall Microsoft Power BI Desktop Silently

Check out the following posts for a scripted solution:

Microsoft Power BI Desktop Install and Uninstall (PowerShell)
Microsoft Power BI Desktop Silent Uninstall (PowerShell)
  1. Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
  2. Enter one of the following commands:

Microsoft Power BI Desktop 32-bit Silent Uninstall (EXE)

PBIDesktopSetup.exe -q -norestart -uninstall
PBIDesktopSetup.exe -quiet -norestart -uninstall
PBIDesktopSetup.exe -s -norestart -uninstall
PBIDesktopSetup.exe -silent -norestart -uninstall

Microsoft Power BI Desktop 64-bit Silent Uninstall (EXE)

PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -q -norestart -uninstall
PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -quiet -norestart -uninstall
PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -s -norestart -uninstall
PBIDesktopSetup_x64.exe -silent -norestart -uninstall

Always make sure to test everything in a development environment prior to implementing anything into production. The information in this article is provided “As Is” without warranty of any kind.

Jason Bergner

I am an accomplished Software Engineer at Patch My PC, leveraging more than 18 years of hands-on experience in Configuration Manager administration and application packaging. I am driven by a genuine passion for solving complex problems and consistently strive to discover innovative and effective solutions. Sharing my extensive knowledge of application deployments is a true joy for me, and I am honored to contribute to the community here at Silent Install HQ.

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