Copilot Sparkle in Excel missing

hi Adiekmann​  This is a fairly common Copilot-for-Excel desktop issue right now. Since it works in Excel on the web but not in Excel Desktop, the problem is almost always one of these: version, channel, privacy setting, or a UI/COM add-in conflict.

Here’s a short, practical checklist to fix the missing Copilot “sparkle” (in-cell icon) in Excel Desktop:

1.First – confirm the sparkle is actually supported for that build

The “sparkle” is not enabled in all Office channels yet. It is mainly appearing in:

✅ Current Channel
✅ Monthly Enterprise Channel (newer builds)
❌ Semi-Annual Channel (most common cause)

Fix (if on Semi-Annual):
Ask your admin to move Excel to:

• Current Channel or
• Monthly Enterprise Channel

You can check this in Excel:
File → Account → About Excel → Update Channel

2.Update Excel to the latest build (critical)

Have your colleague do this in Desktop Excel:

File → Account → Update Options → Update Now

Then fully close Excel and reopen it.

The sparkle does not back-port to older builds even if Copilot licensing is active.

3.Check this exact Excel setting (affects in-cell features)

Sometimes this disables the sparkle UI:

File → Options → Advanced

✔ Enable Live Preview

✔ Show Quick Analysis options on selection

Turn both ON → Restart Excel.

4.Disable conflicting COM / Excel add-ins

On both machines the issue reproduces — that usually means a corporate add-in conflict.

Try this test:

File → Options → Add-ins

Manage: COM Add-ins → Go

→ Uncheck ALL

→ Restart Excel

If the sparkle appears → re-enable add-ins one by one to find the blocker.

Very common conflict sources:

• Tableau add-in
• SAP / Oracle add-ins
• Old Power BI / Power Pivot add-ins
• Antivirus plugin

5.Test in Safe Mode (important diagnostic)

From Run (Windows + R), type:

excel /safe

If the sparkle appears in Safe Mode → 100% an add-in or profile issue.