If you work with Power BI, you will come across file types like .pbix, .pbip, .pbit and .pbids. They look similar, but each one has a different job. Knowing which is which saves time, avoids confusion, and makes teamwork easier. This guide covers what each file type does and when to use it. It starts with the files you work with directly, then opens up a .pbip project to show the files inside it. Quick overview # Extension What it is Best used for 1 .pbix Everything in one packaged file Everyday building and sharing 2 .pbip Project folder of readable files Git, teamwork, version control 3 .pbit Report template without data Reusing a design for many clients 4 .pbids Saved data connection Quick, consistent source setup 5 .pbiviz Custom visual package Adding specialised charts 6 .tmdl Model definition in plain text Reviewing and editing the model 7 .pbir Report definition and link to the model Editing pages, visuals and filters 8 .bim Older single-file model format Legacy projects and tools Files you work with directly 1. .pbix: the all-in-one report This is the standard Power BI file. The data, model, pages and visuals are all packed into a single file. Best for: day-to-day report building, and sharing or publishing a complete report. Limitation: it is a sealed file. It is hard to see exactly what changed between two versions, and only Power BI Desktop fully understands it. 2. .pbip: the report as a project A Power BI Project (PBIP) saves the same report as a folder of simple, readable text files instead of one sealed file. A small .pbip file opens the project, and the folders keep the model and the report separate. Best for: version control with Git, team collaboration, and reviewing changes. 3. .pbit: the reusable template A template keeps the design and logic but removes the data. When someone opens it, Power BI asks for connection details or parameters and loads the data fresh. Best for: reusing one report design across many clients, teams or tenants, and starting new reports from a proven structure. 4. .pbids: the saved connection This small file stores only how to connect to a data source, such as the server and database name. It contains no data and no report. Best for: giving colleagues a ready-made connection. Opening the file launches Power BI with the source already selected. 5. .pbiviz: the custom visual A .pbiviz file is a package for a custom visual, such as a chart type that Power BI does not include by default. Once imported, it appears alongside the built-in visuals. Best for: adding specialised visuals to your reports, or sharing a visual your team has built. What's inside a .pbip project? When you save a report as a PBIP, Power BI creates one small .pbip file and two folders: one for the semantic model and one for the report. These folders contain several more file types, and each can be opened and edited on its own. 6. .tmdl: the model in plain text TMDL (Tabular Model Definition Language) describes the semantic model, including tables, columns, measures and relationships, as readable text. It holds the structure, not the rows of data. Best for: reviewing model changes line by line, and creating or updating measures and tables. 7. .pbir: the report definition The .pbir file links the report to its semantic model. The report's pages, visuals and filters are stored alongside it in the PBIR format, as a folder of small files rather than one large block. Best for: editing pages and visuals as files, tracing which filters affect which visual, and applying changes consistently. 8. .bim: the older model format BIM stores the entire model in a single JSON file. It was the standard before TMDL. New projects now favour TMDL, because a single large file is harder to read and to compare between versions. Best for: older projects and external tools that still use it. Which one should you use? Building a report on your own: use .pbix. It is the simplest choice. Working in a team or using Git: use .pbip. Delivering the same report to many clients: create a .pbit template. Making setup easier for a colleague: share a .pbids file. Need a chart Power BI doesn't include: import a .pbiviz visual. Reviewing or editing the model inside a project: open the .tmdl files. Editing pages, visuals or filters inside a project: use the .pbir definition. Working with an older project or tool: you will meet .bim. Conclusion Each file type solves a different problem, from simple sharing with .pbix to team-friendly development with .pbip. Choosing the right one makes reports easier to build, review and reuse.
