What is happening?
After sharing a Looker Studio dashboard with a colleague, they are unable to see the data. The dashboard charts display an error indicating they do not have access to the underlying data source (e.g., BigQuery).
Error: No data set access. Insufficient permission to the underlying data set.
Why did this happen?
By default, Looker Studio often uses "Viewer's Credentials." This means the person viewing the report must have their own direct permissions to the data source (BigQuery). Common hurdles include:
No Direct Data Access: The colleague has access to the Looker Studio file but not the Google Cloud Project.
Credential Configuration: The dashboard is not yet configured to use the "Owner's" authorization to fetch data.s.
Follow these steps to resolve the issue:
Method 1: Grant Direct Data Access
New Dashboards: When saving a permanent link to the Looker Studio dashboard, modify the permissions from 'Viewer' to 'Owner' during the setup flow.
Method 2: Change Data Credentials to 'Owner' If you don't want to grant every colleague BigQuery access, you can use your own credentials to authorize the data for them:
Navigate to Settings: Open the shared Looker Studio dashboard in Edit mode.
Locate the Source: Go to Resources → Manage added data sources in the top navigation menu.
Action: Find the relevant data source and click Edit.
Change Credentials: Click on Data Credentials and switch the setting from Viewer's Credentials to Owner's Credentials.
Verify: Click Update and then Done. Your colleague should now be able to see the data using your authorization.
Prevention & Tips To avoid seeing this error again:
Set Credentials Early: When first creating a permanent link to a dashboard, ensure you select Owner's Credentials if you plan to share the report with users who do not have Google Cloud access.
Check Permission Levels: Ensure the "Owner" of the credentials remains an Admin or Data Editor in the Alvie BigQuery project.
If you encounter any further issues or need additional assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Alvie support team.