Missing data source

Problem

You see the error message:

Missing data source - There is no data source associated with this component

Or in the error details:

There is no data source associated with this component

Your chart or report shows a broken state with no data displayed.

Why this happens

A chart in Google Data Studio needs a data source. The "Missing data source" error means that one or more charts lost their data source. This can happen for several reasons:

Common causes:

• The data source was accidentally deleted from the report
• A chart was accidentally disconnected from its data source
• When copying a report template, the data source wasn't properly reconnected
• Google Data Studio experienced a temporary glitch and disconnected the chart (rare)
• The data source was removed when a team member left or lost access

Solution: reconnect the data source

Quick fix: one chart

1. Select the chart showing the "Missing data source" error in Google Data Studio
2. Select See Details if available to view the full error
3. In the chart editor panel on the right, look for the Data source dropdown
4. Open the Data source list and select an available data source
5. The chart should immediately populate with data if the data source contains the needed dimensions and metrics

Fix many charts at once

If multiple charts are disconnected, you can reconnect them all at once:

1. Enter Edit Mode in Google Data Studio (select the pencil icon in the top-right)
2. Hold Ctrl+Shift (or Cmd+Shift on Mac) and select each disconnected chart
3. Once all charts are selected, the right panel will show a combined Data source dropdown
4. Select the data source from the dropdown
5. All selected charts will connect to that data source simultaneously
6. Exit Edit Mode by selecting Save

Detailed steps for one chart

1. Edit your report: Select the pencil icon in the top-right corner of your Google Data Studio report
2. Select the broken chart: Select the chart showing the missing data source error
3. Check the right panel: Look for "Data source" section in the right-side panel
4. Select a data source: Open the Data source list

• You'll see all data sources previously used in this report
• You may also see other data sources your Google account has access to

5. Choose the correct data source: Select the Two Minute Reports data source you want to use
6. Check dimensions and metrics: Ensure the chart's dimensions and metrics are compatible with the selected data source
7. Save changes: Select Save in the top-right to save your report

Prevent data source issues

For report creators

• Back up your report: Keep at least one copy of your report
• Don't delete data sources in use: Before you delete a data source, check that no chart uses it
• Test after changes: If you change a data source, reload your report and check that the charts still show

When you copy a report

When creating a report from a template:

1. Make the copy in Google Data Studio (File › Make a copy)
2. Don't just copy the URL
3. Connect each data source to your own Two Minute Reports query config
4. Test all charts before sharing

For teams

• Keep query configs in the team: Create query configs in the team that owns the reports, so that they are not deleted by accident
• Write down your data sources: Keep a list of which data sources each report uses
• Review access: Check from time to time that team members have access to the data sources that they need

Troubleshooting

Problem: the data source list is empty

Cause: The data source may have been deleted.

Solution:

1. In the Hub, create a query config. See Create a query config.
2. Add the query config as a data source in your Google Data Studio report.
3. Select the new data source for the chart.

Problem: the chart shows no data after you reconnect it

Cause: The data source doesn't have the dimensions or metrics that the chart uses.

Solution:

1. Select the chart in edit mode
2. Check which dimensions and metrics are requested
3. Modify the chart to use only dimensions and metrics available in the selected data source
4. Or, select a different data source that contains the data you need

Problem: you can't select the data source that you want

Cause: A permission problem. You may not have access to that data source.

Solution:

1. Ask the team that owns the data source to add you to their team. See Permission denied errors.
2. Or, have them grant you access to the Google Data Studio report containing the data source
3. Wait a few minutes for permissions to sync, then try again

Reconnect many charts at once

For reports with many charts using the same data source:

1. Select all disconnected charts using Ctrl+Shift+click (or Cmd+Shift+click on Mac)
2. Right-click, and select Change data source (if it is there)
3. Choose the data source once
4. All selected charts will reconnect immediately

This saves time compared to fixing each chart individually.

Still having issues?

If you've tried reconnecting and still see errors:

1. Take a screenshot of the error
2. Note which data source you're trying to connect
3. Check that the query config still exists in the Hub
4. Contact [email protected] with these details