Microsoft’s latest Excel upgrades let Copilot make multi-step workbook changes, plan workflows, run Python analysis and show which edits it made, while the standalone COPILOT function is being retired.
Microsoft’s Copilot for Excel has moved well beyond its original role as a formula helper. In 2026, Microsoft turned the assistant into a more capable workbook tool, adding the ability to edit files directly, structure work before making changes, and carry out more complex analysis inside the spreadsheet environment. The shift reflects Microsoft’s broader push to make Copilot behave less like a chat bot and more like an in-app collaborator.
The most significant change is Edit with Copilot, which Microsoft describes as an evolution of Agent Mode. Rather than simply suggesting a formula or answering a question, the assistant can now act on a workbook itself. Users can ask it to create worksheets, add or alter data, build charts, set up PivotTables, apply conditional formatting, reshape data and format tables. Microsoft said these agentic capabilities became generally available in April 2026, signalling a wider move towards multi-step actions inside Office files.
Microsoft has also split the experience into two working styles: Edit mode and Plan mode. Edit mode is for direct changes, while Plan mode lets users ask Copilot to outline a sequence of steps before anything is applied to the workbook. In June, Microsoft said this planning layer was aimed particularly at financial users, who often need greater control over forecasting, modelling and reporting workflows before edits are committed.
A further development is Python support inside Edit with Copilot. That gives users access to more advanced analysis than standard formulas and charts can usually handle. According to Microsoft, Python can be used for statistical summaries, simulations, data transformation and visualisations, which makes it suitable for tasks such as spotting outliers or comparing groups. The company also says Copilot can now surface direct links to the sheet, table, range or chart it has changed, reducing the time needed to find and review edits.
Microsoft has paired these functional upgrades with more transparency and branding controls. The Show Changes pane now identifies which edits were made by Copilot and which came from a person, which should help teams audit shared files more confidently. In addition, Copilot can apply company brand kits and theme settings, including colours, fonts and logos, so reports can be formatted more consistently with less manual work. That said, Microsoft has also quietly retired the COPILOT function in Excel as of 14 September 2026, steering users towards the Copilot pane instead for AI tasks within the app.
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