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Microsoft’s January 2026 update puts Excel back in the spotlight. After a brief pause late last year, the company has resumed its monthly feature recap, and this time the bulk of the changes land squarely on Excel across Windows, Mac, and the web.
With deeper Copilot integration and long-requested automation tools, Microsoft is clearly positioning Excel as a more intelligent, less intimidating workspace for everyday professionals.
The headline addition for Excel on Windows is Agent Mode, part of Microsoft’s broader Copilot push. Instead of building formulas step by step, users can now describe the outcome they want in plain language. Copilot then generates the required formulas, workflows, or models.
Microsoft says this intent-based approach lowers the barrier for advanced analysis. Users who struggle with complex spreadsheet logic can still perform modelling, reporting, and data analysis without losing depth or control.
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Two smaller but meaningful upgrades also arrived for Windows users. Excel now includes new Import functions that pull data directly from .txt and .csv files, without routing everything through Power Query. This speeds up simple data tasks.
Microsoft has also improved error handling. More descriptive error cards now explain what went wrong and why, making troubleshooting less painful in complex sheets. Both features are currently limited to Excel Insiders.
Agent Mode is now available on Excel for Mac, bringing Copilot-powered workflows closer to parity with Windows. The experience mirrors Windows closely, allowing Mac users to rely on natural-language prompts rather than technical expertise.
Excel on the web gains full Power Query support. Users can now import, transform, and edit data directly in the browser via Data > Get Data. The catch: full functionality requires a business or enterprise subscription. Still, this narrows the gap between web and desktop Excel.
Across Windows, Mac, and the web, Excel now supports an Office Scripts automation that saves worksheets as PDFs and emails them automatically. Microsoft labels this ‘Feedback in Action’, signalling direct user demand.
For a tool used by almost every working professional, these updates show Excel is evolving fast and leaning hard into AI-driven productivity.
