Reporting - Configure a filter so it is locked or hidden from viewers

In this article, we’ll show how to configure a filter so that it is locked, or hidden in a Power BI report. This can be a really useful step, as it can ensure that viewers see only information relevant to them, and that information is consistently presented clearly. When creating a report, you have the option to:

• Lock a filter so that a report user cannot change what you have put in place
• Hide a filter once you’ve applied it so that no one sees it
• Choose which filters remain editable by your report user

Note that report editing permissions are required to add and remove a locked/hidden filter.

Steps to lock and hide a filter in a Power BI report

1. Start a new User-created report or open an existing report
2. From the Filters panel, select a filter
3. To lock/unlock the filter, select the padlock. To hide/unhide the filter, select the 'eye' symbol:

Discover more about User-created reports

For a hands-on learning experience, explore our Deep dive courses in The Academy, and watch as Gary builds reports from scratch to meet specific briefs. 

If you prefer to start at the beginning, check out Get Started: Reporting and Analytics with Power BI. You'll begin with Power BI’s top five features, then dive deeper into each one with step-by-step guidance.

Need quick answers? Check out our FAQ, Reporting and Analytics with Power BI, packed with 100+ common questions and in-depth resources. You can also join our regular Ask Me Anything: Reporting live events, to ask your question directly to a Power BI expert. Search PWRFAQ in The Academy for real-world use cases, examples, and scenarios with User-created reports.

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