Power BI Drillthrough Button: Make Navigation Obvious and User-Friendly
- Elena Drakulevska
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
If you’ve been building Power BI reports, you probably know about drillthrough.
In short: drillthrough lets users move from a summary view to a detail page focused on one data point. For example, you can right-click on Austria in a sales chart and jump straight to a page showing visuals and metrics only about Austria.
Sounds powerful, right?
The catch: most users don’t even know it's been implemented.
The UX Problem: Hidden in Plain Sight (and a Quick Fix)
Here’s the thing: unless you’re a Power User, you won’t magically think, “Ah yes, I should right-click this bar chart to uncover secret detail pages!”
That’s why reports end up with frustrated clicks, missed insights, and people asking you for “that extra info” that was technically there all along.
A tiny UX trick can go a long way. Add a little instructional text:
Under a chart: “Click on a country to see more details.”
As a subtitle or above a table: “Right-click a row to navigate deeper.”
These micro-prompts act like signposts. Think of them as the “push” signs on doors: obvious to you, but life-saving for someone standing awkwardly, pulling the handle (well, this would be an example of bad design, more on it here).
The Upgrade: Use a Power BI Drillthrough Button
Enter the Power BI drillthrough button—the UX glow-up your report deserves. Instead of hiding behind a right-click, it makes navigation visible and direct.
With a drillthrough button, you’re no longer asking users to guess what’s possible. You’re giving them a giant, joyful “CLICK ME” that leads them straight to insight.
Great design isn’t about hiding features in secret right-click menus—it’s about creating obvious, joyful paths for your users to find what they need.
👉 Convinced? Let’s make it happen.
How to Add a Drillthrough Button in Power BI
Here’s how to set it up and make it feel intuitive (skip to Step 1 if you already have a drillthrough page):
Step 0. Create a drillthrough page
Before you add a drillthrough button, you need a drillthrough page—the destination where users will land. This is usually a dedicated page with more detailed visuals filtered to the selected item (like one country, one product, or one customer).
Here’s the quick version:
Add a new page in Power BI
In the Format pane → Page information
Set Page type → Drillthrough
Drag a field (like Country) into Drill through from.
Design this page with visuals and metrics that focus on that single item.
Now you’ve got a page that responds dynamically when a user drills through.
Step 1. Add a button
Navigate to the page with the visual your users will interact with—the one that should lead to a drillthrough page.
In Power BI Desktop, go to Insert → Buttons → Blank.
Place it somewhere natural: below or above your chart or table, close to the thing users will click.
Step 2. Set the destination
Select the button.
In Format button pane → Button → Action
Set Type → Choose Drill through
Set Destination → Choose your Drillthrough page (Power BI will detect your drillthrough fields automatically).
Step 3. Use smart states for the Drillthrough Button
This is where the UX magic happens. Your button can change its text depending on what the user has (or hasn’t) selected.
Disabled (nothing selected): Show text like “Select a country to see more details.” → Prevents confusion when the button looks clickable but isn’t.
Enabled (something selected): Default option: “See more details.”
Dynamic text (fx): Take it up a notch by showing the actual selection with a dynamic measure: “See details for [Country].” → Makes the action crystal clear and contextual.
Pro tip: You can format these states in the button’s Format pane → Button style → Apply settings to & Text (Check out the screenshot below).
Step 4. Format it like a real CTA
Don’t let it hide in plain sight—style it like a proper call-to-action button:
Clear, big-enough text, make sure it has good contrast for readability.
Rounded corners if you’re feeling friendly (MoonStory approves).
Position your button consistently (e.g., always above the chart it belongs to) so users know where to find it.
And that’s it! Your drillthrough button is ready to shine!
Bonus Win: Accessibility Matters Too
Drillthrough buttons don’t just improve usability—they also support accessibility. Right-click menus are often hidden from assistive tech and tricky for keyboard-only navigation.
A visible, labeled button is easier to discover, keyboard-friendly, and screen-reader accessible. It’s a small tweak, but a big win for inclusive design.
Wrapping It Up
The Power BI drillthrough button is a small design choice with a big impact. By guiding users with clear, styled buttons, you’ll reduce confusion and make your reports feel intuitive.
Happy designing! And may your buttons always guide users to the good stuff. ✨
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