When you try to combine data from multiple sources in Power Query, Excel may show an error message saying data combination is blocked due to privacy levels. This happens because Power Query applies default privacy settings that prevent different data sources from being merged or appended. The fix requires adjusting the privacy level settings in Power Query or disabling the feature entirely. This article explains why the error occurs and provides step-by-step fixes to unblock your data combination.
Key Takeaways: Disable Privacy Level Checks in Power Query
- File > Options > Current Workbook > Privacy: Set privacy levels to ignore to allow combining any data sources.
- Power Query Editor > File > Options and Settings > Query Options > Privacy: Disable privacy level checks globally for all future queries.
- Data Source Settings dialog: Change individual source privacy levels from Public to None to remove the block for specific connections.
Why Power Query Privacy Levels Block Data Combination
Power Query applies privacy levels to each data source you connect to. These levels are Public, Organizational, and Private. When you combine data from sources with different privacy levels, Power Query blocks the operation to prevent accidental data leakage. For example, combining a Public web source with a Private local file triggers the block.
The default setting in Excel is to check privacy levels for each data source. This is a safety feature designed to protect sensitive data. However, if you are combining data intentionally and the sources are under your control, this setting becomes an obstacle. The block occurs at query execution time, not during query design, so you may not see the error until you refresh the query.
How Privacy Levels Are Assigned
When you first connect to a data source, Power Query assigns a default privacy level based on the source type. Local files and databases get Private. SharePoint and organizational sources get Organizational. Web and public sources get Public. You can override these levels in the Data Source Settings dialog.
What Triggers the Block
The block appears when a query combines two or more sources and at least one source has a higher privacy level than another. The error message reads: “Combining data from different sources is not allowed because one or more data sources have privacy levels that are not compatible.” This applies to Merge, Append, and any cross-source reference in Power Query.
Steps to Disable Privacy Level Checks and Fix the Block
- Open the Power Query Editor
Go to the Data tab and click Launch Power Query Editor. This opens the Power Query Editor window where all queries are listed. - Access Query Options
In the Power Query Editor, click File in the top-left corner, then click Options and Settings, and select Query Options. - Navigate to Privacy settings
In the Query Options dialog, select Privacy from the list on the left under Global. - Disable the privacy level check
Check the box that says “Ignore the Privacy Levels for Power Query in this workbook.” This removes the block for the current workbook only. Click OK to save. - Apply the change and refresh
Back in the Power Query Editor, click Close & Load to return to Excel. Then right-click any query in the Queries & Connections pane and select Refresh to test the fix.
Alternative Method: Change Privacy Level for Each Source
- Open Data Source Settings
In the Power Query Editor, click File > Options and Settings > Data Source Settings. - Select the source to edit
In the Data Source Settings dialog, select the data source that is causing the block from the list. Click Edit Permissions. - Set privacy level to None
In the Edit Permissions dialog, under Privacy Level, choose None from the dropdown. This tells Power Query to ignore privacy checks for this specific source. Click OK and then Close. - Repeat for all combined sources
Repeat steps 1 through 3 for every data source involved in the merge or append operation. Then refresh the query.
If the Fix Does Not Work
Power Query Still Shows the Privacy Block Error
If you disabled the privacy level check but still see the error, the workbook may have cached the old settings. Close Excel completely and reopen the file. Then go to Data > Queries & Connections, right-click the query, and select Properties. Under the Usage tab, ensure the privacy setting is set to Ignore Privacy Levels. If the option is grayed out, the workbook is not connected to Power Query correctly. Recreate the query from scratch.
The Option to Ignore Privacy Levels Is Grayed Out
This happens when the workbook is opened in Protected View or when the Trust Center blocks Power Query changes. Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings. Under Protected View, uncheck all three boxes. Under External Content, ensure “Enable all Data Connections” is selected. Restart Excel and try again.
Data Combination Works but Results Are Wrong
Disabling privacy levels removes the block but may cause unexpected behavior if source data changes. For example, a Private source may be treated as Public after the fix, leading to unintended data sharing. After the fix, verify your combined data manually. Use Power Query filters to check row counts and column values match expectations.
Disable Privacy Levels Globally vs Per Workbook: Key Differences
| Item | Disable Globally (Query Options) | Disable Per Workbook (Workbook Settings) |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Applies to all future workbooks opened on this machine | Applies only to the current workbook |
| Access path | Power Query Editor > File > Options and Settings > Query Options > Privacy | File > Options > Current Workbook > Privacy |
| Effect on other users | Does not affect other users of the same workbook | Setting travels with the workbook file |
| Revertibility | Easy to re-enable by unchecking the box | Requires opening workbook options again |
| Best for | Personal machine where you trust all sources | Shared workbook sent to colleagues |
Disabling globally is faster if you frequently combine data from different sources. Disabling per workbook is safer when distributing the file to others who may have different privacy requirements.
You can now combine data from any source without the privacy level error. Start by disabling the check in Query Options for the current workbook. If the error persists, change individual source permissions to None. For shared workbooks, use the per-workbook setting to avoid affecting other users. As a next step, explore Power Query’s Merge and Append dialogs to combine tables efficiently.