Agent update
Agent Mode in Excel
Agentic Copilot in Excel, announced on 9 Mar 2026 and formerly called Agent Mode, can build and edit sheets, tables, formulas and charts directly in the open workbook, so you get a working model you can review rather than a separate answer.
How to use Agent Mode in Excel for small business
A bookkeeper could ask it to build a 12-month P&L forecast from an operating workbook, with adjustable assumptions, then check the formulas on the grid. A cafe owner could have it refresh last week's sales analysis from a Word update, highlight quiet days, and add charts that are easy to share with staff. A trade business could ask it to turn job-hour or materials data into a simple performance sheet, then tweak a figure and let Copilot update the linked charts.
It is generally available in Excel for Windows, the web and Mac for Microsoft 365 Copilot users. Changes are applied in the file, and are reviewable and reversible. You can choose an OpenAI or Anthropic model for in-app editing. At announcement it supported locally stored workbooks, file uploads and file search. The post does not mention country availability, or a separate price beyond a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence.
Most useful for: Accountant – Reconcile bank and ledger balances before month end, Data Analyst – Clean, join and check the data, and build the tables or extracts the work actually needs, Management Accountant – Build budgets and rolling forecasts
Frequently asked questions
Does it edit my real workbook, and can I undo the changes?
Yes. Copilot applies updates to the grid in the open workbook, including tables, formulas and charts, so you can review them, change assumptions and iterate. Microsoft says the changes are transparent, reviewable and reversible, and that Copilot honours Microsoft 365 permissions and sensitivity labels.
Can I choose which model Copilot uses in Excel?
Yes. You can choose an OpenAI or Anthropic model for in-app editing. At announcement it supported locally stored workbooks, file uploads and file search.
Which Excel platforms is Agent Mode on?
Microsoft says it is generally available in Excel for Windows, the web and Mac for Microsoft 365 Copilot users. The announcement does not describe this as part of the no-cost Copilot experience, and it does not publish a separate per-workbook fee.