Embedding Tableau Cloud Dashboards into a Website without Prompting for Credentials

Answer

There are two contexts, described as A and B below, where credentials can be requested when opening a view in Tableau Cloud. Both need to be addressed to ensure no prompt for username or password credentials occurs inside an embedded view.

A. Tableau Cloud User Credentials

Tableau Cloud must be able to authenticate the viewer of an embedded view as a valid Tableau Cloud user before allowing the embedded view to load. This can result in a login screen being presented. You must use Connected Apps in order to authenticate the user without requiring an explicit login prompt. For more information, see Use Tableau Connected Apps for Application Integration.

As a possible alternative, SAML SSO or Salesforce OpenID Connect may be used to bypass the login prompt as long as the user is already authenticated with the identity provider in the same browser as the embedded view.

An important note if using SAML:

In Tableau Cloud, the default authentication type for embedded views must be set to SAML and have inline frame auth enabled. The SAML identity provider must also support and have in-frame authentication enabled. See the below steps to enable both settings in Tableau Cloud.

Ensure the below two options are properly configured under Settings > Authentication and clicking the "Edit Connection" link under "SAML":
Set the Default authentication type for embedded views to SAML.
Under Embedding options, select Authenticate using an inline frame (less secure; not supported by all IdPs).

For more information, see the section on "Embedding options" in "Enable SAML Single Sign-On for a Site".

B. Data Source Credentials

Data sources used by views on Tableau Cloud often require credentials to authenticate access to the data source (exceptions are flat files like Excel or text files or Tableau Data Extracts which only require credentials on refresh). If a login request is not desired, the recommended solution is to set "Embedded password" for the data source when publishing.