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Can a Local Excel File Be Used as a Data Source in Power Apps?

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Posted on 22 Jan 2025 09:39:37 by Fraz_Ahmed 8
I’m wondering if it’s possible to use a local Excel file as a data source in Power Apps without uploading it to cloud storage services like OneDrive or SharePoint.
If it’s feasible, what are the steps to set it up? Also, are there any limitations or considerations I should be aware of when working with a local Excel file in this way?
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  • Ram Prakash Profile Picture
    Ram Prakash 5,166 Super User 2025 Season 1 on 23 Jan 2025 at 08:53:35
    Can a Local Excel File Be Used as a Data Source in Power Apps?
    Hi,
     
    To use a local Excel file in Power Apps, you can use the On-Premises Data Gateway. First, install the gateway on a machine that has access to the Excel file. Then, configure the gateway and upload the Excel file to Power BI. Create a Power BI report or dataset with the file, and in Power Apps, connect to Power BI as a data source. While this method works, consider the following limitations: the gateway machine must be online, performance can be affected by file size and network speed, and there may be delays in data refresh.
     
    Please mark as answer if my suggestion helps.
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  • WarrenBelz Profile Picture
    WarrenBelz 146,889 Most Valuable Professional on 22 Jan 2025 at 11:09:53
    Can a Local Excel File Be Used as a Data Source in Power Apps?
    Simple answer is no - Power Apps is a cloud-based service and the data source also needs to be the same - you can use either OneDrive or SharePoint storage.
     
    Please click Does this answer your question if my post helped you solve your issue. This will help others find it more readily. It also closes the item. If the content was useful in other ways, please consider giving it a Like.
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    DBO_DV Profile Picture
    DBO_DV 4,578 Super User 2025 Season 1 on 22 Jan 2025 at 11:09:33
    Can a Local Excel File Be Used as a Data Source in Power Apps?
    Hey @Fraz_Ahmed, 
     
    Using a local Excel file in Power Apps without uploading it to OneDrive or SharePoint isn’t really possible. Power Apps doesn’t support direct access to local files, so you’d need a workaround. But even if it did, Excel is already a poor choice as a data source.
    Excel has several limitations even when stored in the cloud. It’s not a real database—there’s no indexing, weak data validation, and it doesn’t handle multiple users well. Performance can slow down significantly once you go beyond a few thousand rows, and Power Apps doesn’t automatically sync changes made in Excel.
     
    If you try to keep it on-premises, it gets even worse. Power Apps can’t access local files directly, so you’d need an extra setup just to make it work. Any changes you make in Excel won’t be reflected in Power Apps unless you sync them manually. Plus, Excel on-prem isn’t built for real-time collaboration and poses security risks.
     
    If you want a better solution, you should consider moving the data to a SQL Server (even SQL Express) and connecting Power Apps to it through the On-Premises Data Gateway. If your company has an on-prem SharePoint server, you can store the Excel file there and connect Power Apps via the gateway. You can also use Power Automate to sync the Excel data to a cloud source like Dataverse, SharePoint, or SQL, which will make it easier for Power Apps to work with. If you have development resources, setting up a REST API to expose the data and connecting Power Apps via a custom connector is another option.
     
    If you absolutely must use Excel, moving it to the cloud is your best bet. Excel in OneDrive or SharePoint still has limitations, but it’s better than trying to force Power Apps to work with a local file. For a stable, scalable, and efficient solution, Excel isn’t the answer—a real database is.
     

    If this solved your problem, please mark it as Solved to help others find the solution faster.
    If you found it helpful, consider giving it a Like to support each other in this community!

    Thanks, and happy building!

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