Skip to main content




What are the steps to remove columns from tables in Power BI with an example? In general, the data that we load from the source may have some columns that may not be necessary for the purpose of the analysis.

How to remove columns from tables in Power BI

To remove unwanted columns from existing tables, click the Edit queries option under the Home tongue.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-1-7643792

Clicking Edit queries The option opens a new window called Power Query Editor.

  1. Queries: List of available tables.
  2. Displays the data (rows and columns) present in the selected table.
  3. Properties: Name of the selected table. You can use this section to rename the table to be more meaningful.
  4. Steps applied: List the steps we take in this Power BI table.
remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-2-5675075

TIP: You can select the required column (or Ctrl + Select columns for multiple columns) and press the Remove button on your keyboard.

For the purpose of demonstration Removing Columns from Tables in Power BI, we removed some columns from the DimProductCategory table.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-3-6658664

Remove columns from tables in Power BI: approach 1

Select the column you want to delete. Then right click on it and select the Remove context menu option.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-4-3289937

Now, you can see that the Product Category Alternate Key column has been removed from the table. And you can see the same under the Steps applied section.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-5-8447837

Delete other columns: Use this option to remove all columns from the table except the selected columns.

For demonstration purposes, I am selecting the product category key and the product category name. Then right click and select the Remove other columns context menu option.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-6-6317794

As you can see, all other columns were removed from the category table.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-7-5467827

If you want to undo the changes (or revert the changes), go to the Steps applied section, and delete the step as shown below.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-8-4555785

Undo the steps

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-9-3484002

Remove columns from tables in Power BI: approach 2

First, select the column you want to delete and then click Remove columns option under the Home tongue.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-10-3594629

Reorder columns in Power BI tables

Drag the column and drop it according to your needs. For demonstration purposes, we dragged the English product category name from the last position to the first.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-11-6812298

You can see the category name in the first position

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-12-1602629

Whatever changes you have made, they will not take effect until you press Apply. Let me hit the Close and apply option under the Home tongue.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-13-4810258

Wait until the changes are made.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-14-9865468

And you can see that the Product Category table has only two columns.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-15-2705241




What are the steps to remove columns from tables in Power BI with an example? In general, the data that we load from the source may have some columns that may not be necessary for the purpose of the analysis.

How to remove columns from tables in Power BI

To remove unwanted columns from existing tables, click the Edit queries option under the Home tongue.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-1-7643792

Clicking Edit queries The option opens a new window called Power Query Editor.

  1. Queries: List of available tables.
  2. Displays the data (rows and columns) present in the selected table.
  3. Properties: Name of the selected table. You can use this section to rename the table to be more meaningful.
  4. Steps applied: List the steps we take in this Power BI table.
remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-2-5675075

TIP: You can select the required column (or Ctrl + Select columns for multiple columns) and press the Remove button on your keyboard.

For the purpose of demonstration Removing Columns from Tables in Power BI, we removed some columns from the DimProductCategory table.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-3-6658664

Remove columns from tables in Power BI: approach 1

Select the column you want to delete. Then right click on it and select the Remove context menu option.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-4-3289937

Now, you can see that the Product Category Alternate Key column has been removed from the table. And you can see the same under the Steps applied section.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-5-8447837

Delete other columns: Use this option to remove all columns from the table except the selected columns.

For demonstration purposes, I am selecting the product category key and the product category name. Then right click and select the Remove other columns context menu option.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-6-6317794

As you can see, all other columns were removed from the category table.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-7-5467827

If you want to undo the changes (or revert the changes), go to the Steps applied section, and delete the step as shown below.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-8-4555785

Undo the steps

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-9-3484002

Remove columns from tables in Power BI: approach 2

First, select the column you want to delete and then click Remove columns option under the Home tongue.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-10-3071090

Reorder columns in Power BI tables

Drag the column and drop it according to your needs. For demonstration purposes, we dragged the English product category name from the last position to the first.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-11-1332283

You can see the category name in the first position

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-12-6611205

Whatever changes you have made, they will not take effect until you press Apply. Let me hit the Close and apply option under the Home tongue.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-13-6062917

Wait until the changes are made.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-14-9865468

And you can see that the Product Category table has only two columns.

remove-columns-from-tables-in-power-bi-15-5792032
R Marketing Digital