6 Power BI Modern Button Slicer UI Patterns for Better Dashboards

1- Segmented Controls

One of my favourite patterns is turning the Button Slicer into segmented controls.

This is a common interface component used in many web and mobile applications, and it works surprisingly well in Power BI.

Unlike some of the other patterns in this article, this one doesn’t require SVG images.

Everything is created using the built-in formatting options of the Button Slicer.

The only limitation is that the background colour and rounded corners are applied to the entire visual rather than each individual button. Fortunately, when the selected item is highlighted, the final result still looks clean and modern.

Segmented controls created using only the built-in formatting options of the Button Slicer.

2- Tabs

Another simple pattern you can build with the native Button Slicer is tabs.

By enabling the Accent Bar and positioning it at the top or bottom of the visual, the selected item becomes clearly highlighted, similar to the tabs used in many web applications.

Like the segmented control, this pattern only uses the built-in formatting options of the Button Slicer. A few adjustments to the accent bar, spacing, and colours are enough to create a clean and familiar interface for users.

This works well when users need to switch between different measures, metrics, or views without relying on dropdown slicers.

The Accent Bar can be used to create a clean tab-style interface.

3- Toggle Buttons

Another simple pattern is creating toggle buttons.

Instead of showing a long list of options, users can switch between two states, similar to an on/off switch found in many applications.

This pattern is created by using two images: one for the selected state and another for the default state.

Although it’s still a Button Slicer underneath, it feels much more like a native toggle control.

Toggle buttons created by designing separate selected and unselected states.

4- Selection Icons

One feature that is often overlooked is the built-in selection icon.

Power BI can automatically display a small icon beside the selected item, making it much easier for users to recognize which option is currently active.

Since this feature is built into the Button Slicer, there’s no need for SVG images or custom visuals.

Sometimes small visual details like this make the interface feel much more polished. The built-in selection icon helps users easily identify the active item.

5- Clickable KPI Cards

This is one of the patterns I’ve started using more frequently in my dashboards.

Instead of selecting a KPI from a dropdown, users simply click directly on the KPI card they want to analyse.

The interaction is usually built using a Field Parameter or a disconnected table, while an SVG image is used as the background of each button to create the card design.

The selected KPI can then update other visuals across the report, creating a much more natural way to explore the dashboard.

With today’s LLMs making it much easier to generate SVG code, creating these kinds of interactions has become far more practical.

Clickable KPI cards built with SVG backgrounds and the native Button Slicer.

6- Items with Images

The Button Slicer also supports images.

Instead of displaying only text, each item can have its own image or icon.

For example, you could use:

• Product categories
• Country flags
• Brand logos
• Product photos

Typically, two versions of each image are created—one for the default state and another for the selected state.

This allows the selected item to stand out while keeping the interface consistent.

Images can be used for both default and selected states to create richer slicer interactions.