How to Connect MySQL to Power BI Using ODBC

Introduction In today’s data-driven world, the ability to connect and analyze data from different sources is a key skill for any data professional. One common requirement is integrating relational databases like MySQL with powerful visualization tools such as Microsoft Power BI. While Power BI provides a native MySQL connector, there are situations where using an ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) connection is more flexible, especially in enterprise environments or when dealing with compatibility issues. In this guide, I’ll walk through how to connect MySQL to Power BI using the ODBC driver, step by step. What You Will Learn By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to: Understand what ODBC is and why it’s used Install and configure the MySQL ODBC driver Set up a Data Source Name (DSN) Connect Power BI to MySQL using ODBC Troubleshoot common connection issues Requirements Before we begin, make sure you have: A running MySQL database (local or remote) Access credentials (username, p