How To: Disable Auto Column Width in Power BI

Tired of your Power BI visuals jumping around every time you refresh or interact with slicers?

This SlideShare breaks down a simple but powerful fix: disabling auto column width in tables and matrices.

Based on the Select Distinct Business Analytics Blog, we walk through the exact steps to stop Power BI from auto-resizing columns — a common culprit behind misaligned visuals, broken overlays, and inconsistent layouts.

You'll learn:
-Why Power BI auto-resizes columns by default — and how it disrupts branded dashboards
- Step-by-step instructions - to turn off auto-size and manually lock column widths
- Tips for maintaining layout consistency - across bookmarks, slicers, and pages
- How this tweak improves readability, alignment, and visual storytelling

Whether you're presenting a Profit & Loss breakdown or guiding clients through liquidity insights, this formatting fix ensures your dashboards feel intentional, not accidental.

Perfect for analysts, dashboard designers, and anyone who values clarity and control in their Power BI reports.

Ideal for client-facing dashboards and branded visual design

Read the full blog post at https://www.selectdistinct.co.uk/2025/10/29/how-to-disable-auto-column-width-in-power-bi/

#PowerBI #DashboardDesign #PowerBITutorial #BusinessIntelligence

1. https://www.bensound.com/ (energy) https://www.bensound.com/ How to: Disable Auto Column Width in Power BI

2. Business Analytics Blog https://www.bensound.com/ (energy) https://www.bensound.com/ How to: Disable Auto Column Width in Power BI

3. Tired of column widths resetting after a refresh or slicer change? You’re not alone — and yes, there’s a fix. Learn how to lock widths in tables and matrices to keep your layouts branded, consistent, and client-ready .

4. The Problem: Auto-Resizing Columns Power BI auto-adjusts column widths — but that “helpful” feature often causes: Misaligned visuals after refresh Inconsistent spacing across bookmarks Broken overlays or commentary blocks Poor readability for short labels/icons If your dashboard jumps when switching slicers — this is likely why.

5. Example

6. The Fix: Disable Auto Column Width Step-by-Step Select your visual (table or matrix)

7. The Fix: Disable Auto Column Width Step-by-Step 2. In the Visualizations pane, click the Format icon (paint roller) 3.  Expand the Column headers section

8. The Fix: Disable Auto Column Width Step-by-Step 4. Expand the Options section 5. Toggle the Auto-size width to ‘off’   You can now manually resize each column by dragging the edges.

9. How to disable

10. Why This Matters for Branded Dashboards Turning off auto-width helps you: Maintain consistent layout across bookmarks and pages Align commentary blocks with financial metrics Prevent layout shifts that confuse non-technical users Create space for branded visuals, icons, or modular commentary

11. Bonus: Locking Layout with Bookmarks If you’re using bookmarks to toggle views, make sure to: Disable auto column width before creating bookmarks Resize columns manually, then update your bookmark Test layout consistency across slicer states This ensures your dashboard feels intentional, not reactive

12. Final Thoughts: Why Column Widths Matter Auto-resets might seem minor — but in client-facing dashboards, consistency is everything . Disabling auto-size protects: Clarity in P&L breakdowns Trust in SME liquidity insights Branded polish and alignment Small tweaks = dashboards that feel intentional , not accidental.