One of the most powerful features of Power BI Wall is the ability to automatically cycle through multiple report pages using our slideshow function. This feature is perfect for dashboard walls in operations centers, executive briefing rooms, or any scenario where you want to display rotating data visualizations without manual intervention.
What is the Slideshow Function?
The slideshow function allows you to select specific pages from your Power BI report and have them automatically rotate at intervals you define. Unlike standard Power BI embedding, Power BI Wall removes the navigation elements, report tabs, and filters panel when slideshow is active, providing an immersive, professional viewing experience.
How to Set Up a Slideshow Presentation
1Navigate to Presentations
Log into your Power BI Wall account and click on "Presentations" in the header navigation. If you're creating your first presentation, click "Create Your First Presentation" or "New Presentation" if you already have saved presentations.
2Select Your Workspace and Report
Choose the Power BI workspace containing your report, then select the specific report you want to display. Power BI Wall will automatically authenticate with your Power BI account and load your available workspaces and reports.
3Enable Slideshow Mode
In the "Slideshow Settings" section, toggle the "Enable Slideshow" switch. Once enabled, additional options will appear:
- Duration per page: Set how long each report page displays before rotating (default: 30 seconds)
- Loop slideshow: When enabled, the slideshow restarts from the beginning after showing the last page
- Select pages: Choose which specific report pages to include in your slideshow rotation
4Select Report Pages
Click the "Select Pages for Slideshow" button. Power BI Wall will load a preview of your report and display all available pages. Simply click on the pages you want to include in your slideshow - selected pages will be highlighted with a blue border and checkmark.
5Configure Display Options
Before saving, configure these important display settings:
- Hide Navigation: Enable this to remove Power BI's native navigation bar (recommended for slideshow mode)
- Show Clock: Display a live clock in the presentation control bar
- Refresh Interval: How often to refresh the data in your report (independent of slideshow rotation)
6Save and Start
Click "Save & Start Presentation" to launch your slideshow immediately, or just "Save" to save the configuration for later use. Your presentation will open in fullscreen mode with clean, navigation-free displays.
How the Slideshow Works
Once your slideshow starts, Power BI Wall takes care of everything automatically:
- Navigation Hiding: All Power BI navigation elements are automatically hidden, including the top navigation bar, page tabs, and filters panel
- Automatic Rotation: Pages cycle automatically based on your configured duration
- Seamless Transitions: Smooth transitions between report pages without flickering or loading delays
- Data Refresh: Reports continue to refresh at your specified interval, independent of page rotation
- Fullscreen Optimization: Content is optimized for fullscreen viewing on large displays
Slideshow Controls
Even in slideshow mode, you have full control over the presentation. A control bar appears at the top of the screen with these options:
- Pause/Resume: Temporarily pause the slideshow on a specific page
- Previous/Next: Manually navigate to the previous or next page in the rotation
- Fullscreen: Toggle fullscreen mode on and off
- Settings: Adjust slideshow duration and other options on the fly
- Exit: Return to the landing page
Best Practices for Slideshow Presentations
Choose the Right Duration
Consider how much data is on each page when setting rotation duration:
- Simple KPI dashboards: 15-30 seconds
- Detailed analytics: 45-60 seconds
- Complex visualizations: 60-90 seconds
Select Pages Strategically
Not every report page needs to be in your slideshow. Consider:
- Which pages contain the most important metrics for your audience?
- Are there pages with drill-through or interactive filters that won't work well in slideshow mode?
- Does the order of pages tell a coherent story?
Test Your Slideshow
Before deploying to a TV or large screen:
- Run through the entire slideshow cycle to verify page selection and timing
- Check that all visuals are readable from a distance
- Ensure data refreshes are working as expected
- Verify that the navigation is properly hidden
Why Hide Navigation?
Power BI's default navigation bar includes report tabs, filters, bookmarks, and other interactive elements. While these are useful for interactive analysis, they're distracting and unnecessary for passive viewing on dashboard walls. Power BI Wall's automatic navigation hiding provides:
- Clean displays: No visual clutter competing for attention with your data
- Maximum screen real estate: Your dashboards use the full display area
- Professional appearance: Polished, production-ready presentations
- Focus on content: Viewers concentrate on the data, not the interface
Common Use Cases
Operations Centers
Rotate through multiple operational dashboards showing real-time metrics, system health, and performance indicators. Perfect for NOCs, SOCs, and manufacturing floors.
Executive Briefing Rooms
Display rotating KPIs, financial metrics, sales performance, and strategic dashboards during meetings and presentations without manual intervention.
Lobby and Reception Areas
Showcase company metrics, customer success stories, or performance highlights to visitors and employees with professional, self-running presentations.
Team Workspaces
Keep teams informed with rotating dashboards showing sprint progress, deployment status, customer metrics, or other team-relevant data.
Troubleshooting Tips
Slideshow not starting?
- Ensure you've selected at least one report page
- Check that "Enable Slideshow" is toggled on
- Verify you have the necessary Power BI permissions for the report
Navigation still showing?
- Make sure "Hide Navigation" is enabled in display options
- Some report pages may have custom formatting that affects hiding - test with different pages
Pages rotating too quickly/slowly?
- Click the Settings button in the control bar to adjust duration without exiting the presentation
- Different page types may need different durations - find what works for your content
Get Started Today
The slideshow function transforms Power BI Wall from a simple dashboard display tool into a powerful presentation platform. With automatic navigation hiding, customizable rotation, and professional display options, you can create impactful data presentations that run 24/7 without any manual intervention.
Ready to set up your first slideshow? Create your presentation now or manage your existing presentations.