Running reports is a routine part of working in Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (F&O), especially during month-end close, reconciliation, and financial analysis. But when you identify an issue, make a correction, and need to run the same report again, navigating back through menus and re-entering report parameters can add unnecessary steps to your workflow.

Fortunately, D365 F&O offers a simple shortcut that can save time. For certain SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and Financial reports, pressing F5 to refresh the browser can re-run reports using the same parameters. In this Tip of the Month, we’ll show you how to use this shortcut to quickly refresh report results, validate changes, and streamline repetitive reporting tasks.

Tip summary: Re-run reports faster with a simple browser refresh

In D365 F&O, some SSRS and Financial reports can be re-run directly from the browser using the F5 key. Instead of closing the report, navigating back to the original menu, and entering the same parameters again, users can refresh the report page to generate updated results.

This is especially useful when making adjustments to underlying data and needing to verify the results without changing the report parameters.

Key benefits include:

• Re-run supported reports without navigating back through menus or parameter screens
• Quickly verify corrections, postings, and adjustments
• Reduce repetitive steps during month-end close and reconciliation
• Streamline report testing and validation
• Improve efficiency when running the same report multiple times

While this shortcut does not work with every report, it can be a valuable time-saver for frequently used reports that support browser refresh.

Tip steps: How to re-run a report using F5

Follow these steps to refresh a supported SSRS or Financial report in D365 F&O.

1. Run the report as usual

Navigate to the report you want to run, enter the required parameters, and generate the report.

2. Make your changes

If you identify an issue or need to update the underlying data, open another browser tab or window to make the necessary changes. This might include posting a journal entry, correcting a transaction, or updating a configuration.

3. Refresh the report using F5

Return to the browser tab containing the original report and press F5 on your keyboard.

For supported reports, the browser refresh will re-run the report using the original parameters.

4. Review the updated results

Once the report finishes generating, review the output to confirm that your changes are reflected.

If the report opens to a blank page or returns to the parameter screen, it may not support this shortcut. In that case, navigate back to the report and run it again using the standard process.

Tip insights: When this shortcut makes the biggest impact

Using F5 to re-run reports can be particularly useful for:

• Month-end close and reconciliation: Quickly verify updated balances after posting adjustments or correcting transactions.
• Financial reporting: Refresh supported trial balance, aging, and other financial reports after changes to underlying data.
• Report testing and validation: Re-run reports during implementations, user acceptance testing (UAT), or reporting enhancements to confirm results.
• Repetitive reporting tasks: Save time when running the same report multiple times with unchanged parameters.

For finance teams that frequently review and validate reports, eliminating repetitive navigation can help streamline everyday reporting processes.

What to know before using this shortcut

There are a few important considerations when using F5 to refresh reports:

• Not all reports support F5: The shortcut works with certain SSRS and Financial reports, but behavior can vary. Test it with the reports your team uses most frequently.
• Use a separate browser tab: Keep the report open in its own tab while making changes elsewhere to avoid interrupting active transactions or forms.
• Report parameters remain unchanged: When supported, F5 re-runs the report using the same parameters. If you need to change dates, accounts, dimensions, or other filters, run the report again through the standard process.

Don’t overlook security

Refreshing a report does not bypass D365 F&O security permissions. Reports continue to respect the user’s assigned security roles, duties, and privileges, ensuring users can only access information they are authorized to view.

Why this tip matters

In D365 F&O, small productivity improvements can make a meaningful difference during reporting-intensive processes. Using F5 to re-run supported reports eliminates unnecessary navigation, helps users validate changes faster, and reduces repetitive steps during month-end close and reconciliation.

If you’d like help improving financial reporting, streamlining accounting workflows, or identifying additional ways to optimize your Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations environment, our D365 F&O experts are here to help. Contact our team to learn how we can help you get more value from your system. And be sure to check back next month for another D365 Finance & Operations Tip of the Month.