# Create and share a cloud connection for a semantic model
This article explains how to connect to a semantic model from a plan (preview) item.
To connect a plan to a semantic model, a workspace admin or member must create a **shareable cloud connection**. Other users can use this connection to access the semantic model. The following steps describe how to create and share the connection.
### Prerequisites
Before you can create the semantic model connection, make sure you have the following prerequisites in place:
* Data in a [Power BI semantic model](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/data-warehouse/semantic-models)
### Create a semantic model connection
This connection is used to connect to your semantic models when you create a plan. The following steps must be completed by a workspace admin or member who has access to the semantic model.
1. In your Fabric toolbar, select the **Settings** icon. Select **Manage connections and gateways > New**.
2. Select **Cloud** as the **new connection**.
3. Enter a **Connection name**.
4. For **Connection type**, select *Power BI Semantic Model*.
5. Set the **Authentication method** to *OAuth2.0*.
6. Select **Edit credentials**, then sign in with your Microsoft account.
7. Select **Create.**
### Share the semantic model connection
1. Next to the name of the semantic model connection in your Fabric workspace, select **...** and **Manage users**.
2. Search the **name or email ID** of the users to share the semantic model connection.
3. Set the **access permission** as User, User with resharing, or Owner.
4. Select **Share** to share the connection.
5. The semantic connection created is shared, which can be accessed by other users.
Other users can now use this shared connection to connect to the semantic model.
### Connect to a Direct Lake semantic model
If you want to connect to a Direct Lake semantic model, follow the steps below. These steps can be performed by admin or member users.
1. Next to the name of the semantic model in your Fabric workspace, select **... > Settings > Gateway & Cloud Connections**.
2. By default, the connection is set to **Single Sign On.** You can create and use a new connection.
3. Select **Create a connection** from the connection list.
4. Enter the new **connection name, and** *OAuth 2.0* as the **authentication method.**
5. Select **create**.
6. Select the newly created direct lake semantic model connection from the list and **apply.**
### Next steps
Now that your semantic model connection is created, you can create a Planning sheet that uses this connection: Create a [Planning sheet](https://docs.fabricplan.com/planning-sheets/how-tos/creating-a-planning-sheet).
