What's New in Excel (April 2024)

Welcome to the April 2024 update.

Generating multiple formula columns, creating complex formula columns that span across multiple tables, and new ways to engage with Copilot in Excel are now available to Excel users on web and Windows. Copying and pasting improvements and sharing links to sheet views are also available in Excel for the web, and the ink to text pen is rolling out to Insiders running Excel for Windows.

Excel for Web:

1. Generating multiple formula columns with Copilot in Excel
2. Creating complex formula columns that span multiple tables with Copilot in Excel
3. Copying and pasting Improvements #FIA
4. Sharing link to sheet views #FIA

Excel for Windows:

1. Generating multiple formula columns with Copilot in Excel
2. Creating complex formula columns that span multiple tables with Copilot in Excel
3. New ways to engage with Copilot in Excel
4. Ink to text pen (Insiders)

Excel for Web

 

1. Generating multiple formula columns with Copilot in Excel

Copilot in Excel now supports generating multiple formula columns from a single prompt. Ask one question, and Copilot can return two formula columns simultaneously. For instance, you can extract both the first name and last name from a single prompt, neatly separating the information into distinct columns. Read more here.

 

2. Creating complex formula columns that span multiple tables with Copilot in Excel
Additionally, now you can use Copilot to create complex formula columns that span across multiple tables, utilizing functions like XLOOKUP and SUMIF. This capability streamlines data processing and empowers you to handle more complex data analysis tasks efficiently, even when using multiple tables. Read more here.
Generating Complex Formula Columns from Multiple Tables with Excel Copilot

 

#FIA

3. Copying and pasting improvements

Based on feedback we’ve received from many of you, we’ve made the following improvements to the copying and pasting experience:

• Drag and Drop Enhancements: Provides a more seamless and intuitive way to manipulate data.
• Autofill: Enables you to drag data to fill series, copy cells, and split data.
• Paste options improvements: Allows you to choose the right paste option for your needs by right-clicking or accessing the auto-recovery paste options.

Read more here >

Copying and Pasting Web Improvements

 

#FIA

4. Sharing link to sheet views
You can now share a link to a Sheet view that captures a subset of a workbook’s contents. This new capability can help you more efficiently collaborate on large, complex workbooks and more easily gather feedback and input from others. Read more here >
Share links to Sheet views in Excel for the web

 

Excel for Windows

 

1. Generating multiple formula columns with Copilot in Excel

Copilot in Excel now supports generating multiple formula columns from a single prompt. Ask one question, and Copilot can return two formula columns simultaneously. For instance, you can extract both the first name and last name from a single prompt, neatly separating the information into distinct columns. Read more here.

 

2. Creating complex formula columns that span multiple tables with Copilot in Excel
Additionally, now you can use Copilot to create complex formula columns that span across multiple tables, utilizing functions like XLOOKUP and SUMIF. This capability streamlines data processing and empowers you to handle more complex data analysis tasks efficiently, even when using multiple tables. Read more here.
Generating Complex Formula Columns from Multiple Tables with Excel Copilot

 

3. New ways to engage with Copilot in Excel
We’ve enhanced Copilot in Excel to make the experience even more seamless and efficient. Now, with Copilot in Excel, you can use the Microphone feature to prompt Copilot verbally, eliminating the need for manual typing. In addition, for fresh prompt ideas tailored to your specific data, now you can select the View Prompts icon to explore the Prompt Guide in the chat pane.. This feature is currently rolling out to Windows users. Read more here.

 

(Note: Copilot in Excel is currently in preview. Learn more about Copilot in Excel here.)

An image showing the prompt guide button selected with prompt options displayed.
4. Ink to text pen (Insiders)

The Ink to Text Pen lets you use your digital pen (or stylus) to automatically convert your handwriting into text as you go, helping you quickly enter content into cells. Additionally, you can use pen gestures to select and delete cell content.

NOTE: The Ink to Text Pen replaces the functionality of the Action Pen in Excel.
Read more here >Ink to Text Pen selector

 

 

Check if a specific feature is in your version of Excel Click here to open in a new browser tab

 

Your feedback helps shape the future of Excel. Please let us know how you like a particular feature and what we can improve upon—"Give a compliment" or "Make a suggestion"..  You can also submit new ideas or vote for other ideas via Microsoft Feedback.

 

Subscribe to our Excel Blog and the Insiders Blog to get the latest updates. Stay connected with us and other Excel fans around the world – join our Excel Community and follow us on X, formerly Twitter.

 

Special thanks to our Excel MVPs David Benaim and Bill Jelen for their contribution to this month's What's New in Excel article. David publishes weekly YouTube videos and regular LinkedIn posts about the latest innovations in Excel and more. Bill is the founder and host of MrExcel.com and the author of several books about Excel.