Microsoft Fabric · Capacity Administration
Capacity Administrator
Per-capacity administration. Assigned when a Fabric/Power BI capacity is created. Controls workspace assignment to the capacity and workload-level memory configuration.
Scope: Single Fabric or Power BI Premium capacity
Permissions
- Workspaces - Assign or unassign workspaces to this capacity
- Capacity permissions - Manage who can use the capacity
- Workloads - Configure memory and workload-specific settings on the capacity
- Refresh summary - View capacity refresh schedules and history
Common use cases
- Departmental capacity admin (e.g. one capacity per business unit)
- Delegating Fabric capacity ops without giving full tenant access
- Managing capacity-bound workspaces during reorganisations
Best practices
- Assign 2-3 capacity admins per capacity for continuity
- Pair with Capacity Metrics app reviewers for cost visibility
- Document which workspaces belong to which capacity
Security considerations
- Capacity admins can move workspaces between capacities, affecting performance and cost
- Cannot grant workspace-level permissions - those are separate
Common questions
When should I assign the Capacity Administrator role?
Assign Capacity Administrator when you need to: Departmental capacity admin (e.g. one capacity per business unit); Delegating Fabric capacity ops without giving full tenant access; and Managing capacity-bound workspaces during reorganisations. It is part of Microsoft Fabric and should be granted as a least-privilege alternative to broader roles like Global Administrator.
What can someone with the Capacity Administrator role do?
The Capacity Administrator role grants permissions including: Workspaces - Assign or unassign workspaces to this capacity; Capacity permissions - Manage who can use the capacity; Workloads - Configure memory and workload-specific settings on the capacity; and Refresh summary - View capacity refresh schedules and history. See the Permissions section above for the full list.
What are the security risks of the Capacity Administrator role?
Key considerations when assigning Capacity Administrator: Capacity admins can move workspaces between capacities, affecting performance and cost; and Cannot grant workspace-level permissions - those are separate. Review the Security considerations section before assignment, and pair with Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for just-in-time access where possible.