Excel in 2025: A Year of Culture, Craft, and Copilot
As 2025 comes to a close, one thing feels clearer than ever: Excel is no longer just something you use. It’s something you belong to. This year brought major product innovations, many powered by AI, but it also delivered something just as meaningful: cultural moments that reminded us how deeply Excel is woven into work, learning, creativity, and even competition around the world. From celebrating a milestone birthday, to watching spreadsheets light up arenas and streaming platforms, to shipping some of our most ambitious product updates yet, 2025 was a year we’re incredibly proud of. And none of it would have happened without you. Let’s take a look back. A Cultural Year for Excel Excel Turns 40! In 2025, Excel celebrated its 40th birthday—four decades of helping people think, analyze, build, and decide more effectively. What began as a simple spreadsheet application in 1985 has evolved into a foundational tool used by hundreds of millions of people across industries, roles, and continents. Over the years, Excel has adapted to new technologies, new ways of working, and entirely new audiences, without losing the core flexibility that made it so powerful in the first place. We marked this milestone by reflecting on Excel’s past and, more importantly, its future: one where data literacy, accessibility, and creativity continue to expand. 👉 Read more in Excel Turns 40: Join the Celebration! The Excel World Championship Goes Mainstream If you needed proof that spreadsheets have officially entered pop culture, look no further than the Excel World Championship (EWC). In 2025, the competition reached new heights with larger audiences, more global participation, and unprecedented attention. What began as a niche idea has grown into a true esports-style event that proves how dynamic, fast-paced and thrilling Excel can be in expert hands. Watching competitors solve complex problems live under pressure and at speed was both entertaining and inspiring. It showed that Excel mastery is a real skill built through practice, creativity and deep understanding. 👉 Read more in Congrats to the Winners of the 2025 MECC & MEWC! Spreadsheet Champions Brings Excel to the Big Screen This year also saw the release of Spreadsheet Champions, a documentary that follows six students from different countries on their unique journeys to achieve excellence in competitive Excel. More than just a story about formulas and grids, the film is about community, curiosity, and the joy of solving problems together. It captured something we see every day across forums, classrooms, livestreams, and workplaces: Excel brings people together. For many of us on the Excel team, seeing these stories told so thoughtfully was deeply moving—and a powerful reminder of who we’re building for. 👉 Read more in Celebrating the Premiere of “Spreadsheet Champions” at the Melbourne International Film Festival A Breakthrough Year for the Product While Excel’s cultural presence grew, 2025 was also one of the most ambitious product years in recent memory. Agent Mode in Excel One of the biggest shifts came with Agent Mode in Excel—a new way to approach work that moves beyond asking for help, to delegating outcomes. Instead of manually building step-by-step solutions, users can now describe goals and let Excel reason through the steps: gathering data, applying transformations, and explaining results along the way. It’s a meaningful step toward making Excel not just reactive, but proactive. Agent Mode doesn’t replace expertise; it amplifies it. 👉 Read more in Building Agent Mode in Excel The COPILOT Function Arrives In 2025, Copilot became more deeply embedded directly into the Excel grid with the introduction of the COPILOT function. For the first time, users can call Copilot like a formula, bringing AI-powered reasoning directly into cells alongside traditional Excel functions. This bridges the gap between natural language requests and structured spreadsheet logic, unlocking entirely new workflows. It’s one of the clearest examples yet of how AI and spreadsheets can work together seamlessly. 👉 Read more in Bring AI to your formulas with the COPILOT function in Excel Formula Completion Gets Smarter Excel has always been about speed and precision, and in 2025 we made writing formulas easier than ever with improved formula completion. Smarter suggestions, better context awareness, and faster recommendations mean less time remembering syntax, and more time focusing on insights. Whether you’re learning Excel or pushing it to its limits, formula completion now meets you where you are. Small improvements like this matter. They add up to a smoother, more confident experience for everyone. 👉 Read more in Introducing formula completion - A new way to write formulas in Excel using Copilot Thank You for an Incredible Year 💚 If there’s one theme that defines Excel in 2025, it’s this: progress powered by community. Every feature we shipped and every moment we celebrated was shaped by customer feedback, creator experimentation, MVP insight, and everyday use in the real world. You pushed us, inspired us, and reminded us why Excel continues to matter—40 years on. As we head into 2026, we’re excited to keep building with you. Thank you for being part of the Excel story.
Introducing the new Get Data dialog in Excel for Windows
We are excited to announce a first step towards modernizing Power Query in Excel for Windows - a new way to connect to data that will make finding and using external data sources faster and more intuitive! The modern Get Data dialog gives you a clean, simple starting point for connecting to data. With built-in search and quick access to popular data sources, you can easily find the right source and start working on your data. How it works Select the Data tab on the ribbon, then select Get Data > Get Data (Preview) to open the new dialog. Browse through popular data sources on the Home tab or use the search bar to find a specific source. Select the New tab under the categories list on the left to browse through all available data sources. What it does When you open the modern Get Data dialog, you’ll be able to search for the connector you need or pick from recommended options—all in one clean view. When you select a source, Excel takes you straight into the familiar, current Power Query import flow and you’ll be able to see the same steps you know today. For more information, check out modern Get Data Dialog in Excel for Windows. Note: You can still import external data from the Get Data dropdown categories as well as from the new Get Data dialog. More to come The new dialog is the first step toward a modernized Power Query experience in Excel, paving the way for upcoming innovations like modern import flows and a modern Power Query editor. In addition, you’ll see more modules integrated into this dialog soon, making it easier than ever to discover, connect, and prepare your data. Availability This feature is gradually rolling out to M365 subscribers in Excel for Windows, with Version 2509 Build 16.0.19328.20000 or later. Feedback We’d love to hear about your experience with the modern Get Data dialog. Let us know: ✔️ Did the overall experience feel intuitive and helpful? ✔️ Which new additions would you like to see? Just click on the 🙂button in the upper right-hand side of the dialog to share your feedback. Your feedback helps us refine the experience and prioritize what’s next.What's New in Excel (November 2025)
Welcome to the November 2025 update. This month, we’re excited to share several enhancements across Excel. Announced at Ignite, Agent Mode in Excel now includes web search and Anthropic model support, and is available in Excel for Windows—via the Frontier program. Excel for Windows introduces a modernized Get Data dialog, providing a clean, simple starting point for connecting to data. Additionally, users on Windows, web, and iOS can preview comments on protected files directly in email notifications. For Insider users, Excel for iOS adds Liquid Glass styling and template filters, introducing a new, modern home experience. Excel for Windows: - Agent Mode in Excel enhancements (Frontier) - Get Data dialog Excel for Windows, web, and iOS: - Comment previews on protected files #FIA Excel for iOS: - Liquid Glass and template filters (Insiders) Excel for Windows Agent Mode in Excel enhancements (Frontier) 1. Web search. At Ignite last week, we introduced web search in Agent mode. Imagine pulling real-time information from the web straight into your spreadsheet workflows—market trends, historical stats, scientific figures—without juggling browser tabs or copy/pasting from a chat window. For example, you can ask Agent Mode to compile the latest GDP growth and CO₂ emissions data for G20 countries or create a table of this year's Nobel Prize winners with detailed attributes. Copilot can now pull this data from trusted sources into Agent mode's multi-step workflow and build directly in your spreadsheet, saving time and reducing manual effort. Plus, it supports citation links for transparency so you can have confidence in the output. This integration is perfect for analysts, researchers, and anyone who needs up-to-date external data to make informed decisions. 2. Anthropic model support. Choice matters, and we are committed to providing multi-model options in Microsoft 365. Building on Researcher agent and Copilot Studio, Agent mode now offers an option to choose Anthropic’s Claude models to power your experience. Just choose the "Try Claude" option to get started. For enterprise users: your admin must allow access to Anthropic AI models. Learn more about using Claude in Agent mode in Excel. Claude brings a different approach to spreadsheet generation offering a distinct experience from the default OpenAI models powering Agent Mode. While Claude streams its chain-of-thought and explanations differently, ongoing improvements aim to deliver a smooth experience in this early preview. This flexibility ensures you can pick the model that best fits your needs—whether it’s speed, accuracy, or style. 3. Now available in Excel for Windows. Last month, we introduced Agent mode in Copilot in Excel for Web through the Frontier program. At Ignite, we announced that Agent mode is now available in Excel for Windows too, making AI assistance available for users and professionals who rely on Excel in the desktop app for their work. While Mac support is planned for later, Windows users will benefit immediately from this rollout. Users must be in the Insiders Beta Channel on Windows. Get Data Dialog The modern Get Data dialog gives you a clean, simple starting point for connecting to data. With built-in search and quick access to popular data sources, you can easily find the right source and start working on your data. This feature is currently rolling out to Windows Current Channel users. Read more here > Excel for Windows, web, and iOS Comment previews on protected files #FIA Excel now lets you preview comments on protected files directly from your email notifications. When someone adds a comment, the email includes the comment text and its context within the file, so you can quickly review feedback without unlocking or opening the document. Excel for iOS Liquid Glass and template filters (Insiders) Your favorite Microsoft 365 apps on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro now feature Liquid Glass styling. We’ve also made the search experience available from the bottom of the screen, to align with iOS 26’s search patterns and make it easier to use with one hand. When searching for templates, you’ll now also see quick filter buttons at the top that let you browse by category – like Flyers, Resumes, or Invoices – instead of scrolling through a single long list, so finding the perfect template is faster and more intuitive. Read more here > Check if a specific feature is in your version of Excel Click here to open in a new browser tab Many of these features are the result of your feedback. THANK YOU! Your continued Feedback in Action (#FIA) helps improve Excel for everyone. 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, Bill Jelen, Alan Murray, and John Michaloudis 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. Alan is an Excel trainer, author and speaker, best known for his blog computergaga.com and YouTube channel with the same name. John is the Founder & Chief Inspirational Officer at MyExcelOnline.com where he passionately teaches thousands of professionals how to use Excel to stand out from the crowd.What's New in Excel (October 2025)
This month, look for Agent Mode in Excel (Frontier) in the Tools menu of Copilot for Excel. Additionally, PivotTable #SPILL and accessibility assistant updates are now available to Insider users on Windows and Mac. Formula by Example has also rolled out to the Current Channel for Excel on Windows.Spreadsheet Day - Celebrate the grid that changed everything
October 17 marks a quiet revolution. On this day in 1979, VisiCalc shipped—the first electronic spreadsheet—and suddenly, anyone with a computer could model ideas, track budgets, and make decisions faster than ever before. That simple grid of rows and columns became the backbone of modern business, education, and creativity. How Did Spreadsheet Day Begin? Spreadsheet Day was created in 2010 by Excel MVP Debra Dalgleish, known worldwide for her work at Contextures. Her goal was simple: celebrate the spreadsheet’s impact and the vibrant community around it. She chose October 17 to honor VisiCalc’s release—the moment spreadsheets went digital and changed everything. A Quick Look Back Before spreadsheets, recalculating a budget meant erasing and rewriting by hand. VisiCalc changed that overnight, and Excel carried the torch—bringing charts, formulas, and collaboration to millions. Over four decades, spreadsheets have evolved from static tables to dynamic engines for analysis and storytelling. They’ve powered breakthroughs in science, finance, and even art. Beyond the features, spreadsheets represent something bigger: empowerment. They give anyone the ability to turn raw data into insight. That’s why Spreadsheet Day isn’t just about software—it’s about the people who use it to solve problems every day. Debra’s vision sparked a tradition that now spans the globe. Educators, analysts, and enthusiasts join in each year to share tips, stories, and appreciation for a tool that empowers millions—a reminder that community matters as much as technology. Meet the Spreadsheet Champions Celebrate Spreadsheet Day with a sneak peek at Spreadsheet Champions, a documentary that goes beyond formulas to tell a human story. This film follows six students from around the world as they compete in Microsoft’s Excel challenge. Each brings unique hopes and struggles—whether it’s De La Paix in Cameroon aiming to make his family proud, Carmina in Guatemala finding refuge in math, or Mason in the U.S. balancing his love for spreadsheets with quirky hobbies. Alongside Alkmini from Greece, Nam from Vietnam, and Braydon from Australia, these young competitors reveal how mastering a spreadsheet can unlock confidence, opportunity, and even friendship. It’s a celebration of resilience, creativity, and the influence of spreadsheets in shaping lives today. Watch the trailer below: Why We Celebrate Spreadsheet Day isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about recognizing the creativity and problem‑solving that spreadsheets unlock. Every chart that clarifies a decision, every formula that saves a late night, every model that helps a team plan better—that’s the legacy we’re celebrating. Today, spreadsheets are everywhere: in classrooms, boardrooms, and even living rooms. They’ve helped launch companies, plan weddings, analyze sports stats, and map out personal goals. Spreadsheet Day is our chance to pause and appreciate the tool that makes all of that possible. Share Your Story We want to hear from you! What’s your favorite spreadsheet memory? What tip or trick changed the game for you? Post your story on social with #SpreadsheetDay, or drop it in the comments below. We’ll be reading and sharing some of our favorites. Your experience might inspire someone else to try something new. Happy Spreadsheet Day! Join the conversation with #SpreadsheetDay, and let’s keep building the future—one cell at a time.
Explain Formulas with Copilot—Now on the Grid
Understanding complex formulas in Excel just got a lot easier. The new Explain Formula feature turns Copilot into your inline assistant, delivering clear, step-by-step breakdowns directly on the grid, right next to your data, no need to switch context or open the chat pane. What makes this especially powerful is that the explanations are contextual, grounded in your actual data and workbook, not generic descriptions. By bringing the explanation to where you’re working, Copilot helps you stay in flow. It’s a seamless, in-the-moment experience that makes it easy to scan, understand, and act on formulas right where you need it most. How It Works Here’s how to get an explanation in just a few clicks: Select a cell with a valid formula A Copilot icon appears next to the cell Click “Explain this formula” from the dropdown Copilot shows a step-by-step explanation directly on the grid Need to dive deeper? Click “Chat with Copilot” to continue the conversation in the side pane Note: If the Copilot chat pane is already open, the explanation will be displayed there instead of on the grid. What It Does: Contextual Formula Explanations When you select a formula cell, Copilot can now explain what that formula does using a dedicated card shown in the grid. Helping you quickly understand what the formula does based on your actual data and context, not just a generic description. This makes it easy to: ✅ Understand the formula’s goal in your workbook ✅ Learn how it works, function by function ✅ Build confidence without ever leaving your sheet For example, given this formula: =I4 * XLOOKUP(H4, $L$4:$L$7, $M$4:$M$7) With just a click, Copilot will explain that: Because the explanation is tailored to your actual data and scenario, it’s faster to grasp, easier to verify, and more relevant to your work. Copilot provides the clarity you need right where you need it. Copilot Can Explain Any Excel formula No matter how simple or complex, Copilot can explain any Excel formula. Whether you're working with math, logic, references, arrays, or text manipulation, Copilot helps you understand what’s going on and why. Availability This feature is gradually rolling out to Excel for Windows and Excel for the web. Feedback We’d love to hear how this new experience is working for you. Let us know: ✔️ Was the explanation clear and easy to understand? ✔️ Was it easy to access the explanation when you needed it? ✔️ Did the overall experience feel intuitive and helpful? Just click the 👍 or 👎 at the bottom of the Copilot response to share your thoughts. Your feedback helps us refine the experience and prioritize what’s next.
