Introduction
Static reports often fail to deliver engaging insights. That’s where Power BI Bookmarks come in. Bookmarks allow you to save report states including filters, visuals, and slicer selections so you can create interactive storytelling experiences for your audience.
What are Bookmarks in Power BI?
A Bookmark is essentially a snapshot of the current view of your report. It remembers things like:
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Which visuals are shown or hidden.
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The filter or slicer selections applied.
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The current drill-down level in charts.
This allows you to quickly switch between different report states with just one click.
Why Use Bookmarks?
✔️ Storytelling Guide users step by step through insights.
✔️ Highlight Key Metrics Focus attention on what matters most.
✔️ Simplify Navigation Create button-based navigation like an app.
✔️ Custom Views Save filtered views for different departments or users.
How to Create Bookmarks in Power BI
Step 1: Enable Bookmarks Pane
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Go to the View tab Enable Bookmarks Pane.
Step 2: Customize Your Report View
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Apply filters, hide/unhide visuals, or set up the view you want to save.
Step 3: Add a Bookmark
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In the Bookmarks Pane Click Add.
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Rename it (e.g., “Q1 Sales Overview”).
Step 4: Use Buttons for Navigation
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Insert a Button from the Insert tab.
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Link the button to a specific bookmark for interactive navigation.
Practical Example: Sales Storytelling Dashboard
Imagine you want to present quarterly sales performance:
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Bookmark 1 Overall yearly sales summary.
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Bookmark 2 Deep dive into Q1 sales by region.
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Bookmark 3 Q2 vs Q3 comparison with highlights.
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Bookmark 4 Profit margin analysis for Q4.
By clicking navigation buttons, users can move through the “story” without getting lost in filters.
Best Practices
✔️ Keep bookmarks well-named and organized.
✔️ Combine with Selection Pane to hide/show visuals.
✔️ Use Buttons + Bookmarks for a professional user experience.
✔️ Test the flow before publishing to ensure smooth navigation.
Conclusion
Power BI Bookmarks transform your reports from static pages into interactive stories. Whether for business presentations, client reports, or dashboards, bookmarks provide a smooth storytelling experience that engages decision-makers and helps them focus on what truly matters.
👉 Next Blog Preview:
“Power BI Drillthrough: Deliver Contextual Insights with One Click"
