How do I create a report usage log to track which reports are being accessed the most

Question

How do I create a report usage log to track which reports are being accessed the most?
I need a solution that helps me understand user engagement with Power BI reports by tracking access frequency, active users, and report usage patterns. This data will help with performance tuning and prioritizing updates. What is the best method to log and analyze report usage, possibly using Power BI audit logs, activity logs, or a custom telemetry solution?

score 0 · Answer 1 · 4 days

To track Power BI report usage effectively, start by leveraging Power BI Audit Logs and Activity Logs available through the Microsoft 365 Compliance Center and Power BI Admin APIs. These logs provide detailed information on who accessed which report, when, and from where—allowing you to monitor user engagement, report popularity, and usage patterns over time.

For automated tracking and analysis, extract this log data using PowerShell scripts, the Power BI REST API, or tools like Microsoft Graph. Store the data in a centralized repository such as Azure Data Lake, SQL Database, or Dataverse, and build a Power BI dashboard on top of it to visualize metrics like report views, most active users, peak usage hours, and stale reports with no recent activity.

For deeper insights, consider implementing a custom telemetry solution by embedding Power BI reports into an application and capturing user interactions via JavaScript event tracking or Power BI JavaScript API. Combined with audit logs, this approach provides a comprehensive view of user behavior, helping you optimize performance, manage capacity, and prioritize enhancements based on actual usage.