How-To
How to Set a Background Image in Power BI (Step by Step)
TL;DR
Export the image at your page size: 1920×1080 for a new page in a current (Fluent 2) report, 1280×720 for a Classic or older report, or 2× either for extra sharpness. In Power BI Desktop, click an empty part of the canvas, open Format page > Canvas background, browse for the image, set Image fit to Fill and Transparency to 0%. Then turn off each visual's background (Format visual > General > Effects) so your designed panels show through, and position visuals with exact X, Y, width and height.
This is the short, do-it-now version. For why each setting matters, plus sizes for every page type, see the Power BI background image size guide under Related reading at the end of this page.
Step 1: Check the page size
Click an empty part of the canvas so nothing is selected. In the Visualizations pane, Format page > Canvas settings shows the Type (16:9 by default) and Size. As of November 2026, new pages in a report on the Fluent 2 base theme default to 1920 × 1080; Classic and older reports use 1280 × 720, and existing pages keep whatever size they had. Note these numbers; the image must have the same aspect ratio.
Step 2: Export the background at that size
Export a PNG at exactly the canvas size, or at 2× for sharpness: 1920 × 1080 (or 3840 × 2160 at 2×) for a Fluent 2 16:9 page, 2560 × 1440 for a 1280 × 720 page, 1920 × 1440 for 4:3, 1632 × 2112 for Letter. The VizForge Design Studio and background gallery export PNGs at 1× and 2×. Use PNG for flat shapes and text, JPG for photos.
Step 3: Add the image as the canvas background
With nothing selected, expand Format page > Canvas background and browse for your image. In current Desktop builds the Design ribbon's Page background button opens the same card.
Step 4: Set Image fit to Fill and Transparency to 0%
Fill covers the whole canvas while keeping the aspect ratio, so an image at the canvas ratio lines up exactly. Fit can leave empty bands and Stretch distorts. Set Transparency to 0%, or the canvas colour shows through and the design looks washed out.
Step 5: Set the wallpaper
Expand Wallpaper on the same Format page list and set its colour to the darkest colour in your background, so the canvas doesn't sit in a grey frame when the window is wider than the page.
Step 6: Make the visuals transparent
Select each visual, open Format visual > General > Effects, and turn Background off. Turn Visual border and Shadow off as well, since your panels already draw them. For many visuals, import a theme that sets this for all visuals instead.
Step 7: Position visuals on the panels
Select a visual, open Format visual > General > Properties and type the X, Y, width and height from your design. Designs made at canvas size give you the exact values. Then use View > Lock objects so the layout stays put.
Step 8: Repeat for other pages, or put it in a theme
Canvas background is a page setting. Repeat steps 3-5 on each page, or embed the image in the report theme as the page background (scaling Fill) so every page picks it up.
If it still doesn't look right
Blurry: the image is 1× and the page is shown larger than its pixel size. Re-export at 2×.
Cropped, banded or stretched: the image ratio doesn't match the page, or Image fit isn't Fill. Check both.
Faded: Transparency is above 0%, or the visuals' own backgrounds are covering the panels.
Text in the image can't be read by screen readers. Keep titles and numbers as real text boxes and visual titles, and keep the image for shapes and colour.
FAQ
What size should a Power BI background image be?
The canvas size. New pages in a Fluent 2 report default to 1920 × 1080; Classic and older reports use 1280 × 720 (2560 × 1440 at 2× for sharper results on large or high-DPI screens). Check Format page > Canvas settings to be sure.
Where is the canvas background setting?
Click an empty part of the canvas, then in the Visualizations pane open Format page > Canvas background. In current Desktop builds, the Design ribbon's Page background button opens it too.
Can I set one background for all pages at once?
Yes, through a report theme. Add the image to visualStyles > page > * > background as a base64 data URI with scaling set to Fill, then import the theme.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: Apply page size and settings in a Power BI report
- Microsoft Learn: Create custom report themes in Power BI Desktop
- Microsoft Learn: Design Power BI reports for accessibility
Related reading
Download a ready-made background at 1× or 2×.
Free editor with Power BI page presets and PNG export.
Every page type in pixels, and why 2× looks better.
Open a blank studio page at any Power BI canvas size.
Fit vs Fill vs Normal and the exact export size per canvas.
About the author
Nawaf Sharaf · Founder & Reliability Engineer
Nawaf is a reliability engineer and long-time Power BI practitioner, and the founder of VizForge. He builds the product solo — the AI generation pipeline, the visual code generator, and this site — from the perspective of someone who has spent years shipping Power BI reports in production.
Cite this article as:
VizForge. “How to Set a Background Image in Power BI (Step by Step).” November 4, 2026. https://vizforge.ai/blog/how-to-set-power-bi-background-image