Turn a .pbix into a PBIP project
Power BIPower BI Desktop converts a .pbix to a PBIP, and back, with File > Save as. Microsoft says that is the only way: there is no API or command line for it.
Save it as a project
Open the .pbix in Power BI Desktop, then File > Save as, and save it as a Power BI project (.pbip). Desktop writes a .Report folder, a .SemanticModel folder, a .gitignore and the .pbip file.
To go back, open the project and save it as a .pbix the same way.
Source: Power BI Desktop projects (PBIP).
Without Power BI Desktop
Microsoft's FAQ says no: you can only convert a .pbix into a PBIP, and back, with File > Save as in Power BI Desktop. A forum answer accepted as the solution says the same for pipelines and other tools.
One user reports that renaming the file from .pbip to .pbix gave a message that the file was corrupted.
For a template, a forum answer accepted as the solution says the Power BI API does not convert a .pbix to a .pbit. A request to convert between PBIP and .pbix by code is open as a Fabric idea, with the status New.
Source: Power BI Desktop projects (PBIP), Can we convert a .pbip to .pbix programmatically, Power BI Project file (*.pbip) to Power BI File (*.pbix), Export PBIT from PBIX in bulk (automated) using Python or PowerShell, Programmatically conversion between PBIP and PBIX files (Fabric idea).
Where a template fits
A Power BI template (.pbit) holds the report pages and visuals, the model and its queries, but no data. Make one in Power BI Desktop with File > Export > Power BI template.
Opening a template asks for any parameter values, then where the data is, and creates a report from it.
Source: Create and use report templates in Power BI Desktop.
Check a project in your browser
The Power BI Report Doctor reads a PBIP folder or .zip and lists the file and line to fix. Nothing is uploaded.
Without Power BI Desktop, Power BI Studio opens a .pbix in your browser and downloads its report as a PBIP project, without the model. From a PBIP project it also makes a .pbit. Nothing is uploaded.
Other guides
- What is a PBIP project, and what is TMDL?A Power BI project (PBIP) saves a report and its semantic model as plain text files in folders, instead of one
.pbixfile. - Power BI Desktop can't open a PBIPWhen Power BI Desktop refuses a project, the message usually names a file.
- PBIR vs PBIR-LegacyPBIR saves a report as a folder with a file for each page, visual and bookmark.
- PBIP and Git: what to commit and what to ignoreA PBIP project is plain text, so Git can track it.
- Rename a measure or column without breaking visualsReports connected live to a semantic model are not told about a rename.
- Find where a measure is usedPower BI Desktop does not list the visuals that use a measure, and lineage in the service stops at whole reports.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: Power BI Desktop projects (PBIP). "Save as a project", "Changes outside Power BI Desktop", "Considerations and limitations" and the FAQ. Page dated 2026-09-23. Read 2026-10-04.
- Microsoft forum: Can we convert a .pbip to .pbix programmatically. The question (2023-07-12) and the accepted solution (2023-07-17). Read 2026-11-08.
- Microsoft forum: Power BI Project file (*.pbip) to Power BI File (*.pbix). The question (2025-11-24) and Community Support's reply (2025-11-26). Read 2026-11-08.
- Microsoft forum: Export PBIT from PBIX in bulk (automated) using Python or PowerShell. The question (2024-12-09), a reply (2024-12-10) and the accepted solution (2024-12-11). Read 2026-11-08.
- Microsoft forum: Programmatically conversion between PBIP and PBIX files (Fabric idea). The idea (2023-06-20), its status, New, and its votes. Read 2026-11-08.
- Microsoft Learn: Create and use report templates in Power BI Desktop. "Creating report templates" and "Using report templates". Page dated 2025-10-01. Read 2026-11-08.