How to Create a Date Picker in Power BI

What is a Date Picker?

A date picker in Power BI is an interactive filtering tool that allows report viewers to select specific dates or date ranges directly within a dashboard. It is most commonly implemented through the Date Slicer, a built‑in visual that automatically adapts when connected to a properly formatted date column. Depending on the chosen mode - Between, Before, After, List, Dropdown, or Relative - the slicer can function as a simple calendar selector or a dynamic time‑intelligence control. This flexibility makes it easy for users to narrow down data to a particular day, compare periods, or explore trends across weeks, months, quarters, or years. Because it updates visuals instantly, the date picker becomes a central interaction point for time‑based analysis.

This article explores a simple trick to create a single date picker in Power BI.

Step-by-Step Guide

Add a Date column to the canvas as a slicer.

Under slicer settings, change the style to “Before” and hide the slider and slicer header as shown below.

Insert a text box labelled “Select Date:” and place it in such a way that it overlaps the inactive start date on our date slicer as shown below.

Group the date slicer and the text box as shown below.

See the resulting view.

(Such a slicer acts as a control point that can drive dynamic calculations, comparisons, and UX patterns across an entire report. When used well, it becomes the “anchor date” for your analytics.)

Conclusion

Building a date picker in Power BI isn’t just a technical step - it’s a design choice that shapes how users explore time‑based insights. By leveraging the built‑in date slicer, choosing the right mode (Between, Dropdown, Relative, etc.), and aligning it with a well‑structured date table, you create an intuitive entry point for analysis. A thoughtful date picker turns a static report into an interactive experience, empowering viewers to filter, compare, and uncover trends with confidence.

As you refine your dashboards, keep usability at the centre. A clean, consistent date picker helps audiences focus on the story your data is telling rather than the mechanics of navigating it. With these principles in place, your Power BI reports become not only more functional but also more engaging and impactful.

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