How to Turn Off New Look in Power BI

Power BI’s interface just updated, and now you’re trying to find your way around a completely reorganized layout. It happens - but you can switch back to the familiar classic view, at least for now. This tutorial will walk you through exactly how to turn off the "new look" in Power BI Desktop and explain what to do if you're working in the Power BI Service online.

What Exactly Is the "New Look" in Power BI?

Microsoft frequently refines Power BI’s user interface to improve functionality and streamline the report-building process. The latest "new look" revolves around a concept called on-object interaction. Instead of having separate panes for "Visualizations" and "Data" on the right side of your screen, these controls now appear directly on a visual when you select it.

The goal is to provide a more intuitive and focused experience, reducing the need to move your mouse back and forth across the screen. While many users appreciate the modern approach, it can be a jarring change if you’ve spent years mastering the previous layout.

Key Changes in the New UI

Here’s a quick rundown of the main differences you’ll notice:

On-Object Interaction: This is the biggest change. When you select a visual, a small set of menus appears right next to it. From here, you can change the visual type, add or remove data fields, and access formatting options without ever looking over to the right-hand panes.
The "+" Menu to Build a Visual: Instead of dragging fields from the Data pane onto the canvas to create a new chart, you now have a floating menu on the canvas that lets you choose a visual type first.
Consolidated Panes: The old "Visualizations" and "Filters" panes have been reorganized into a new system. You can open them from the View tab, but they are no longer the primary way to build reports.
Pane Switcher: On the right side, you now have a "pane switcher" that lets you toggle between different panes like Data, Formatting, Bookmarks, and Selection in a more compact way.

Why You Might Want to Switch Back to the Old Look

If you're reading this, you probably have your own reasons for wanting to revert. Most likely, it falls into one of these common categories:

Muscle Memory and Workflow Disruption: You've spent countless hours building reports with the classic layout. You know exactly where every button is, and your hands move automatically. The new UI breaks this flow, forcing you to stop and search for options that were once second nature. This can slow you down, especially when working on a tight deadline.
Information Overload: For some, the floating on-object menus feel cluttered. Having formatting options appear directly on top of the visual you’re working on can be distracting compared to having them neatly organized in a dedicated pane on the side.
Personal Preference: Simply put, you might just prefer the old way. Many users find the clear separation of the canvas, data fields, and visualization options in the classic layout easier to navigate. There’s no right or wrong answer - it’s all about what works for you.
Training and Consistency: If your team was trained on the old interface, a sudden switch can cause confusion and inconsistency. Reverting can help keep everyone on the same page while you plan for a formal transition to the new UI.

How to Turn Off the New Look in Power BI Desktop

Fortunately, you can disable the new on-object interaction model and a few other modern features in Power BI Desktop. The settings are located in the "Preview features" section. You are essentially telling Power BI that you don’t want to opt in to these newer UI elements.

Follow these steps carefully:

Step 1: Open Options

With Power BI Desktop open, click on File in the top-left corner. From the dropdown menu, select Options and settings, and then click on Options.

Step 2: Navigate to Preview Features

In the Options window that appears, look at the menu on the left under the Global heading. Click on Preview features.

Step 3: Uncheck the New Look Features

Here you'll see a list of experimental and new features that are enabled by default. To revert to the classic layout, you need to uncheck a few specific boxes. The most important one is:

On-object interaction

Disabling this one setting will bring back the classic Visualizations and Data panes and remove the new floating menus that appear when you select a visual. Depending on your version of Power BI Desktop, you may see other related options to uncheck for a more complete reversion to the old style.

After unchecking the boxes, click OK.

Step 4: Restart Power BI Desktop

This is a crucial step. The changes will not take effect until you completely close and reopen Power BI Desktop. A pop-up reminder will appear after you click OK. Save your work, close the application, and then launch it again.

When it reloads, you should see the familiar classic interface you’re used to, with the Visualizations pane and Fields pane back on the right side of your screen.

Note: Microsoft eventually makes preview features permanent. While this method works now, it's a good idea to accept that this is a temporary fix. At some point in a future update, the new look may become the only option.

What About the Power BI Service (Online)?

This is where things are different. For a long time, the Power BI Service (the web-based version at app.powerbi.com) had a simple "New look" toggle switch in the top header. You could easily flick it on or off to change your view.

However, this toggle has been permanently removed. Microsoft has made the "new look" the standard and only interface for the Power BI Service. There is no longer a setting or workaround to revert to the old view online.

This change was made to standardize the user experience and ensure that all web users are on the same modern, updated platform. While you can continue using the classic layout in Power BI Desktop for the time being, any reports published and viewed online will be experienced through the new interface.

Tips for Adapting to the New Power BI Look

Since the new UI is the future of the platform (and already mandatory in the Power BI Service), investing a little time in learning it will pay off. Here are a few tips to make the transition smoother:

1. Give It an Honest Try

Before you immediately resort to switching back in Desktop, try using the on-object interaction menu for a full day. It can feel awkward at first, but many users find that once the initial discomfort passes, their workflow becomes faster because all the necessary tools are right where they are looking.

2. Learn the Key New Locations

Build a Visual: This menu appears on-object. Click it to choose a visual type and access a condensed version of the data fields panel.
Format a Visual: After adding data, the on-object menu will show a paintbrush icon. Click that to open the familiar formatting pane on the right, neatly organized into categories.
Access More Panes: Use the View tab in the main ribbon at the top to manually open old favorites like the Bookmarks, Selection, and Sync slicers panes. You can then dock them using the pane switcher on the right.

3. Appreciate the Extra Canvas Space

One undeniable benefit of the new layout is more screen real estate. By tucking the visualization-building controls into on-object menus, the new design dedicates more of your screen to the report canvas itself. This is especially helpful when working on a smaller laptop screen.

Final Thoughts

Switching off Power BI's new look is a straightforward process in the Desktop application, giving you a temporary retreat to the classic interface you know well. However, this option isn't available in the Power BI Service, signaling that the future of the platform is squarely with the new, modern UI. The best path forward is to start familiarizing yourself with the on-object interaction model so you're prepared for when it becomes the standard everywhere.

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