Automate your tasks with the Automate tab—now in Excel for Windows and Mac

[NancyatMSFT]

The Automate tab is growing beyond your web browser and onto your desktop! Starting today, the Automate tab is now available for all eligible enterprise users in Excel for Windows and Mac. Previously, this tab was only available in Excel on the web. 

With this new tab, create and modify scripts that automate your repetitive tasks using Office Scripts. Enhance your workbook by connecting popular applications like Microsoft Teams or SharePoint to build workflows with Power Automate. Combine these productivity technologies to have Power Automate schedule your Office Script. This tab represents the first stage of uniting automation solutions across platforms. We’re eager to hear your feedback! 

How it works 

Here‘s how to view and run scripts. 

1. Open any workbook in Excel for Windows or for Mac and select the Automate tab.  
2. Select a script from the gallery or from the All Scripts task pane.  
3. Click the Run button on the script’s detail page to run the script.   

Here’s how to make a new script.  

1. Open any workbook in Excel for Windows or for Mac and navigate to the Automate tab. All the scripts in your workbook are available, as well as our samples.
2. Make your own script by selecting the New Script button.  
3. To modify an existing script, select Edit on the script’s details page, or select the pencil icon by hovering over any script in the All Scripts task pane. 

Follow these steps to connect your automations to other applications. 

1. In Excel on the web, for Windows, or for Mac, open an Excel workbook.  
2. Select Automate > Automate a Task.  
3. Select the template you want to use.  
4. Sign in, provide the required information, and then select the Create button.  

Learn more 

Want to get started with streamlining repetitive tasks? Check out our documentation below: 

• Take a tutorial on reading workbook data with Office Scripts in Excel 
• Learn how to call scripts from a manual Power Automate flow 

• Explore how to get started with Power Automate 

Share your feedback   

We'd love to hear your feedback as you try out our feature! Give us feedback through the Feedback button located in the Help tab. Include the phrase "Office Scripts" or “Power Automate” to ensure the feedback gets properly routed to our team!  

[Jenwright]

So I created an instant flow - thank you - but how do I get it to "appear" in my Excel spreadsheet?

I used to see my Flows for a workbook in the panel that would open up on the right, but now all I see are links to templates to create a new flow.

[ravon314]

Hi Jen, are you still able to see your flows from the data tab in Excel?

[Jenwright]

Thanks, Ravon314. No, I don't see a link in my Data tab to my flows.

[Jenwright]

So where do flows show up inside a workbook once they are created? Thanks!

[TedGoessling]

The Automate tab is visible in my instance of Excel for Windows (Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2211 Build 16.0.15831.20098) 64-bit).  Unfortunately, all functionality is greyed out.  I have a G5 license in the Government Community Cloud (GCC). 

Is this supposed to be working?

[NancyatMSFT]

@TedGoessling Office Scripts is currently available for E3/E5 licenses. We have plans to investigate GCC support but don't timelines to share at this time. Sorry to hear about this though - I'll share this feedback with the team since a greyed out experience doesn't seem great.

[ravon314]

@Jenwright you can view your flows inside of Power Automate portal by going here or you can redownload the flow add-in to view your flows inside of the Excel. Here is the link that walks you through how to download the extension.

[TedGoessling]

@NancyatMSFT - Thanks for the quick response! Please do pass this along to the Excel team. It's hard not to view this as "broken" for GCC customers. GCC customers are (sadly) used to missing out on cool new stuff, but it's not OK to show our 35,000 users an entirely new but unusable tab in a high-profile application like Excel. When they see that everything is greyed out, some will open support tickets with our service desk, which wastes everyone's time.

[Jenwright]

Thank you, ravon314. That did it. Now I can see my flow in my Excel Workbook! Thanks again!

[TedGoessling]

@NancyatMSFT - One more thing.  I don't see the Automate tab in our GCC instance of Excel Online.  I do see it in a test commercial tenant.  I'm guessing that means someone on the Excel team is/was aware of the GCC issue but failed to handle it in the desktop app.  :crying_face: 

[L z.]

@NancyatMSFT  Suggest you add a link to Office Scripts in Excel - Office Scripts | Microsoft Learn on word eligible in your intro: ... for all eligible users...

First cases have reached forum with the usual "I don't have it"

[cmgos]

什么版本excel有automate选项卡，我的excel没有，已经更新到最新了。

[Jaguil_8]

Where can I find which Channel and version is needed for the Automate Tab to appear in Excel? 

[Sergei Baklan]

@Jaguil_8 , afraid there is no such information. You may check release notes for your channel, e.g. here is for the Current one Release notes for Current Channel releases - Office release notes | Microsoft Learn , on left side select your channel from the menu. 

[rtrto]

Hmmm.  it says open any workbook in Excel 365 and click the automate tab 

BUT, I DO NOT HAVE AN AUTOMATE TAB SHOWN - )(*&^%$

nothing so frustrating as when the instructions are wrong / incomplete.

Now, I have two problems (my original one, and how to decipher the bad / incomplete instructions).

HELP!!!

[Jenwright]

Hi rtrto, Have you tried activating that tab? Right click the far right side of the ribbon. 

Click Customize the Ribbon.

Make sure Automate is checked.

Click OK.

Hope that helps.

[rtrto]

Thanks for the reply.  Automate is not shown/listed as an option (unless I'm missing something).

[Sergei Baklan]

@rtrto , on which channel/subscription you are?

[Sandi Glazebrook]

We don't see it either, here is our version:

[Sergei Baklan]

@Sandi Glazebrook , afraid this functionality so far is not available on semi-annual channel. Perhaps could be in July with next feature update for this channel. Or you may shift on Current channel.

[kallaswamy]

Does this feature list under:Office application and feature availability in Government plans - Service Descriptions | Microsoft L...

I am not able to find this feature as a "Yes" or "No" on the article.

[NancyatMSFT]

@kallaswamy You are correct in that Office Scripts is not supported in GCC channels at this time - this is something our team is investigating, but we don't have any timelines to share right now. Thanks for asking and please feel free to reach out with additional feedback or questions!

[NancyatMSFT]

@Sandi Glazebrook Sergei is correct in that we're not yet available in semi-annual channel; however, the Automate tab should be released there starting in Office's July release. @rtrto In addition to this information, you can also see the list of licenses that support Office Scripts to confirm whether your license is included: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/scripts/overview/excel#requirements. I hope this helps!

[Sergei Baklan]

@NancyatMSFT , thank you for confirmation. As a comment, afraid announcements like some feature "now available for all eligible enterprise users" confuse end users. Many of them don't care about the channels and even don't know about them. 365 means 365, if announced it shall be. Maybe to be more accurate, like "now available for all eligible enterprise users on Current channel and will be deployed on other channels based on <link on channels feature update schedule>"

[ajithjacob]

Hi, I'm trying to run a simple script which will display the sheet name into a cell. 

function main(workbook: ExcelScript.Workbook)

 {

    let sheet = workbook.getActiveWorksheet();

sheet.getRange("A1").setValue(sheet.getName());

}

it seems to be working while running in the code editor, but how ever its not running using power automate flow. can anyone help me out please?

 @NancyatMSFT @Sergei Baklan 

[Sergei Baklan]

@ajithjacob , Power Automate has no idea which sheet is active.

function main(workbook: ExcelScript.Workbook) {

    const sheet = workbook.getWorksheet("Sheet1")

    sheet.getRange("A1").setValue(sheet.getName())

}

shall work

[ajithjacob]

@Sergei Baklan , thank you for replying.

I have tried the above code and it didn't work. the script run with the following error.

Line 3: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'getRange')

there is no sheet 1 as I have renamed the sheet.

i have tried this code on a new workbook with sheet1 and there it worked, but when I renamed the sheet name, same error.

[Sergei Baklan]

@ajithjacob , in any case you shall to define your sheet explicitly. Use name of your sheet, or pick-up name by number of sheet. Again, flow has no idea which sheet is active.

[davidleal]

I am using Excel Web, but I don't see the Automation tab. From File->About this the the build number: 16.0.16312.42310. The announcement stated it is already for Excel Web.

Thanks for any help,

David

[davidleal]

What is the underlying programming language of the script? It seems to be similar to Java Script, but I was not able to confirm it. Where I can find the reference language documentation for the Script language? Thanks

[davidleal]

I am using Excel Web free version, but I don't see the Automation tab. From File->About this the the build number: 16.0.16312.42310. The announcement stated it is already for Excel Web.

Thanks for any help,

David

[L z.]

I am using Excel Web, but I don't see the Automation tab...

See para. Requirements on this page

What is the underlying programming language of the script?...

See Office Scripts documentation 

[davidleal]

Thanks @L z. I didn't mention in my comment that I was referring to the Excel Web free version. At work I have paid version and I can see the Automation tab. I found the explanation on this video. As a workaround we can use Power Automate, but it is not available the Automation tab. I guess it should be documented to avoid any confusion, that under the free version this tab is not available. Thanks

[Michaelnz]

further to davidleal's comment it would have taken a few words to add only available in Enterprise editions to the heading  and saved me time searching for how to install - if an add on is limited in application it should be stated up front

[Peter Bartholomew]

I am not sure how denying functionality to potential users helps anyone.  I did try downloading Script Lab (a Microsoft Garage project) and it did interact with Excel to turn a bunch of selected cells yellow.  It struck me that, though my knowledge of the Excel Object model is adequate from VBA, the web-related bits look pretty opaque to me (somewhere in the past, I made the mistake of learning .NET rather than standard Web coding).  

My main question is how does this functionality relate to that available from the Automate tab available on Enterprise versions of Excel?

[Sergei Baklan]

@Peter Bartholomew , my guess ExcelScript in Automate is bit simpler and more straightforward compare to Script Lab, but I'm not an expert here.

[sanjibdutta]

I think "Automate" tab is a little defective. I can see "Automate" tab and all commands under it avalable as enabled. When I click "New Script" command it say "Office script requires a work or school account". I think I have a personal account ( I don't know all the complicacies about various types of acounts though). If it does not allow office script to be run or created under personal account ( don't know why) then the message is OK. But then the question is why the "Automate" tab appears in the first place and then why all the commands under it are enabled?. I must say it is confusing.

For office automation I still need to be restricted to VBA. But I am really eager to work on office script very much and I can leverage my skill in JavaScript and knowledge of office object model since 90% of my work involves coding in JavaScript..Thanks

[skilner]

I am the admin for our account with an E3 license. How on earth do I get the Automate tab to show up in Excel desktop? Why is this so difficult? I've googled it to death. Please help! thank you

[Satvik480]

Hi,

I have been trying to use the record action tab on desktop. I can see the automate tab and new script tab but it doesn't give me an option for record action. However, my web excel lets me do the record action. The sheet I want to work on is very large to open in web excel. Can you please advise what should I do to get record action tab in deskstop?

Thank you

[unicorn_wrangler]

The 'Automate a Task' button is greyed out for me

I have an E3 license and am running this version of Excel Desktop:

Please let me know how to activate this button.

[MichelleRanMSFT]

Hi @skilner and @unicorn_wrangler, sorry to hear you're having trouble accessing the Automate tab - have you contacted support? If so and they haven't been able to help, then could you provide a session ID (on desktop, go to File > Account > About Excel; on web, go to File > About)?

Additionally, if you're on a local Excel file, Power Automate won't be available since it only works with cloud documents.

[MichelleRanMSFT]

Hi @Satvik480! The action recorder for desktop is currently rolling out (you can see the roadmap here: Microsoft 365 Roadmap | Microsoft 365). At minimum, you should be able to access it if you're a part of Office Insiders. Let me know if you have any questions!

[Sergei Baklan]

@MichelleRanMSFT , do you mean Current channel is not covered on 100% so far?

[MichelleRanMSFT]

@Sergei Baklan the desktop recorder is 100% available for current channel! MEC will take a bit longer.

[Racheed]

Hi team, I have Microsoft office 365 Personal, but still can't find the automate tab, any assistance please?

[Sergei Baklan]

@Racheed , please check first paragraph in this blog: "... available for all eligible enterprise users in Excel for Windows and Mac".  This functionality is not available on non-business subscriptions.

[wribbit]

Hi,

I'm trying to explore the Automate feature, but got an error "We can't start this add-in because it isn't set up properly" no matter what I clicked in the "Automate" tab.

I tried going to the Add-ins page - I did see an "automation" in the Add-ins manager, but no idea what to select because it's a very very long list of "Automation servers available"

Appreciate any help with this, thanks.

P.s Product info page on my account says "Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise", so I don't think it's a licensing issue

P.s.s so I tried this from Excel web and it worked. So would like to know how to make it work on the desktop app as well.