Copilot in Excel helps you build and edit workbooks. When you're updating budgets, creating financial models, or analyzing data, Copilot uses Excel tools like tables, charts, PivotTables, and formulas to complete your requests.
Copilot updates your workbook using Excel's built-in features. Your content stays editable, and you're in control of everything that's modified.
Note
If you don’t see Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote, it might not be included with your Microsoft 365 subscription or available based on your organization’s settings. Learn which Copilot license you have.
Not yet a subscriber? Start your Microsoft 365 trial and experience Copilot today.
What you can do with Copilot in Excel
- Import data: Copilot can help you import data from the web, saved files in OneDrive or SharePoint, or communications from within your organization.
- Highlight, sort, and filter your data: Use Copilot to highlight data you're interested in or to create custom filters. For example, you can ask Copilot to show cells that contain numbers, or filter for numbers greater than five.
- Generate and understand formulas: Create new columns and rows that perform calculations based on your existing data. Copilot can also explain how each formula works.
- Identify insights: Ask Copilot questions about your data. Copilot shows insights as charts, PivotTables, summaries, trends, or outliers.
- Make formatting changes: Apply conditional formatting, sort and filter, or adjust basic formatting like font size, text-wrapping, or autofitting rows across your tables.
Open Copilot in Excel
Select the Copilot icon in the lower-right corner of Excel. For more information about the Copilot button, see The Copilot Dynamic Action Button in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Choose between edit, chat, and plan mode
Copilot in Excel offers three modes: edit, plan, or chat. By default, Copilot in Excel opens in edit mode. In editing mode, Copilot in Excel can edit your workbook directly based on your requests. Use plan mode to come up with a plan before editing your workbook, and use chat mode to keep Copilot responses contained within your chat.
- Allow editing mode supports complex, multi-step tasks like reshaping data, merging sheets, or building reports with multiple elements.
- Plan mode creates a structured approach to completing tasks. Instead of immediate actions, Copilot generates a plan so you can review and confirm the approach before starting.
- Chat only mode can analyze your workbook data and provide insights without making changes to your workbook. For more information about chat mode, see How Copilot Chat works in Microsoft 365 apps: Excel
What to expect
After you submit a prompt, Copilot analyzes your task and creates a step-by-step plan. In editing mode, it works directly in your workbook to carry out that plan, review the results, and evaluate whether the outcome matches your intent. You can watch Copilot's reasoning in the pane and see it make changes live in your workbook.
To stop or pause at any time, select the Stop button in the lower-right corner of the chat input field.
Tip
For sample prompt ideas, see Get data insights with Copilot in Excel and Visualize your data with Copilot in Excel.
For additional Copilot in Excel guidance, see Copilot in Excel tips.
Licensing and availability
For licensing and availability information, see Frequently asked questions about Copilot in Excel: How do I know if I have an eligible license?.
If you have questions about licensing or access, contact your IT admin or Microsoft account representative.
