Looker Explore to Studio in 4 Steps

Using governed Looker models inside Looker Studio means letting a single Looker Explore become a Looker Studio data source. Data flows from the underlying database to the Looker model, then from the Explore to Looker Studio, and Looker Studio inherits the definitions and permissions from Looker. Each Looker Studio data source represents one Explore, but one report can combine multiple Explores even from different models.

Creating the connection follows an ordered flow with dependencies on both sides:

1. Enable and authorize access: A Looker admin enables the Looker Studio BI connector in the Platform section of the Admin panel, and the report creator must have explore permission for the model.
2. Connect the instance and link accounts: The creator selects the Looker connector in Looker Studio, enters the Looker instance URL, and links one Google Account to one Looker account for that instance.
3. Select model and Explore: The creator selects a model, then selects an Explore within that model, and clicks Connect, which creates a data source named Explore — model.
4. Add to a report: The creator selects Create Report or Explore to place charts on a canvas using fields from that Explore.