Power BI smart narrative: a text summary that updates with the data
Power BI smart narrative adds a written summary of a page or a visual to a report. The text states key takeaways and trends, and it updates when the data refreshes or a reader filters the page. Microsoft now calls the visual Narrative and offers a custom mode for text you control. This guide explains that custom mode, its dynamic values and its limits.
- Page and visual summaries
- Dynamic values
- Header icon option
Last updated
What is the Power BI smart narrative visual?
Charts show a pattern, but many readers want a sentence that states it. The Narrative visual provides that sentence. Microsoft suggests using it to address key takeaways, to point out trends and to fit the language to a specific audience.
The visual has two modes. Copilot mode generates summaries and needs a workspace on a paid Fabric F2 or larger capacity, or Premium P1 or larger, with Copilot enabled by an admin. Custom mode lets you write and format the text yourself, with dynamic values tied to fields and measures. Microsoft's article on smart narrative summaries describes the custom mode, and so does this guide. If you plan to use Copilot mode, Power BI Copilot readiness covers the capacity and model groundwork.
One use stands out. When you add a live report page to PowerPoint, the narrative comes along. So the slide shows text that updates with every refresh instead of a pasted screenshot.
Three ways to add a summary to a report
Microsoft's article describes three routes, and each one suits a different need.
Summary for a page
Select the report canvas, then the Narrative icon in the Visualizations pane. The text then covers all visuals on the page.
Summary for one visual
Right-click a visual and select Summarize. You can also pin that summary to the report page afterward.
Icon in a visual header
Turn on the smart narrative icon for a visual. Readers then select it to see an on-demand text explanation.
Add a dynamic value to a Power BI smart narrative in four steps
Dynamic values let you add your own figures to the text, and they follow the filters on the page.
Place the cursor
First select the spot in the summary text where the figure should appear.
Select Value
Next choose Value in the text box commands. Then pick a field or a measure under Data.
Choose a summarization
Then select how to summarize the field. You can also add a filter and give the value a name.
Save and format
Finally select Save. After that, format the value, for example as currency with a set number of decimal places.
How does the summary react to filters?
A summary is dynamic. When a reader cross-filters the page, the generated text and the dynamic values update. For example, selecting one product group in a donut chart refocuses the text on that group.
Microsoft also documents a cap. Custom mode generates up to four summaries per visual and up to 16 per page. Therefore the visual picks what it finds most interesting. The choice for a page depends on the location and size of the visuals.
Sometimes a summary is empty, because the current data and filters produce no insight. A flat line has no high or low point to report, for instance. A hidden-summary symbol then appears, but only while you edit the text.
Which limits of Power BI smart narrative should you plan for?
Microsoft lists a number of unsupported cases. You cannot pin the summary to a dashboard. It is also not supported in Publish to web or in Power BI Report Server. Live connections to Analysis Services are on the list as well.
Some visual types are excluded too. The summary does not cover tables, matrices, R visuals, Python visuals or custom visuals. Therefore a page built mainly from a large matrix gives the visual little to describe.
Model features matter as well. Calculation groups are not supported. Summaries also skip visuals with complex measures, such as a share of the grand total. So test the page with real data before you promise a written summary to readers.
Writing habits that keep a data summary useful
The generated text is a starting point, and a careful edit turns it into something readers trust.
- Edit the wording to match how the audience speaks
- Keep the summary short enough to read at a glance
- Use dynamic values for every figure in the text
- Format each value with units and sensible decimals
- Test the text with the common filter selections
- Place the summary near the visuals it describes
Power BI smart narrative: common questions
Does the Power BI smart narrative need a special license?
The two modes differ. Copilot mode is not a per-user license. As of October 2026, it needs the report in a workspace on a paid Fabric capacity of F2 or larger, or Premium P1 or larger, and trial capacities are not supported. Custom mode, which this guide covers, lets you write the narrative manually with dynamic values.
How do I add the smart narrative icon to a visual?
Select the visual and open the Format pane. Under General, expand Header icons, then Icons, and set Smart narrative to On. Readers who hover over the visual then see the icon. Microsoft recommends it for accessibility, since it announces results to assistive technology.
Can I reuse a value I defined earlier?
Yes. The Review tab lists previously defined values. There you can review, delete or reuse them, and a plus sign inserts a value into the summary. You can also show the automatically generated values with an option at the bottom of that tab.
Can a smart narrative in Power BI summarize a table?
No. Microsoft's list of unsupported cases includes tables and matrices, along with R, Python and custom visuals. So the summary draws on the other visuals of the page. If a table holds the key figures, add a chart or a card for them, or write dynamic values yourself.
Can Power BI Agency add written summaries to our reports?
Yes. One of our consultants checks which pages and sources support the visual, then writes summaries with dynamic values in your business language. We work online in your own Microsoft tenant. Power BI Agency is a division of Sataware Technologies, independent of Microsoft, and starts with a free 30-minute assessment.
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