Power BI Enhancements You Need to Know – Part 3: DirectLake Mode

 

Meet DirectLake Mode – Real-Time Speed Meets Simplicity

 

Until now, Power BI offered two primary storage modes:

anmolmalviya05_0-1749026696593.png

So, you had to choose between:

  • Speed (Import Mode), or

  • Freshness (DirectQuery)

But now, thanks to Microsoft Fabric, there's a third option that delivers the best of both worlds:

 

What is DirectLake Mode?

 

DirectLake Mode allows Power BI to directly read Delta tables stored in OneLake, without needing to import the data or hit a live database for every query.

anmolmalviya05_1-1749026782588.png

So now, your Power BI reports can:

  • Instantly access fresh data from Lakehouse or Warehouse

  • Render with Import-like speed

  • Simplify your data architecture by removing redundant pipelines

Why is DirectLake a Game-Changer?

Here’s what makes DirectLake Mode such a big deal:

Import-Level Performance

Unlike DirectQuery, DirectLake is optimized for analytics. It reads columnar delta files, which are highly performant for aggregations, filtering, and slicing.

Natively Integrated with Fabric

DirectLake works only with Fabric-native storage like Lakehouses and Warehouses, ensuring deep integration and tight governance.

Simplified Architecture

No need for:

  • Staging datasets

  • ETL copies

  • Gateway setups

You model once in Fabric, and Power BI connects directly to it.


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