In this post, we will show you how to use the COPILOT feature in Excel on a Windows 11/10 PC. Microsoft has introduced a new COPILOT function that brings AI directly into the Excel worksheet. Unlike the Copilot chat experience that works through a sidebar, this function is built directly into Excel’s calculation engine. It allows you to enter natural language prompts directly into cells to generate outputs such as summaries, classifications, text content, and more.
Note: Currently, the feature is available only to Microsoft 365 Beta Channel and users requires a valid Copilot license. It is being rolled out gradually, so it may not be visible to all eligible users yet.
How to use COPILOT in Excel?
To use the COPILOT function in Excel on a Windows 11/10 PC, follow these steps:
- Join the Microsoft 365 Insider Program (Beta Channel)
- Open Excel and choose the output cell
- Enter the COPILOT formula
- Review and refine the output
Let us see this in detail.
1] Join the Microsoft 365 Insider Program (Beta Channel)
If you want to try it right away you will have to join the Insiders program. Open Excel and go to File > Account. In the right pane, click the dropdown for Microsoft 365 Insider and select Join Microsoft 365 Insider.
Within the Join dialogue box, check the option to sign up for early access. Then select Beta Channel from the Choose your Microsoft 365 Insider channel dropdown. Agree to the terms and conditions and click OK.
Go back to File > Account. Click the Update Options dropdown and select Update Now to install the latest Insider build.
2] Open Excel and choose the output cell
Open your Excel workbook and click into the cell where you want the AI-generated output to appear.
3] Enter the COPILOT formula
Type in the formula and press Enter. The COPILOT function will call its AI model directly from the cell formula and return a response in the grid (the model—currently gpt-4.1-mini — is hosted on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform).
The COPILOT function has the following syntax:
=COPILOT(prompt_part1, [context1], [prompt_part2], [context2], ...)
where,
- Prompt_part is the task or question you give to the AI in plain language. Each prompt_part (+ context) is merged in sequence to build the full instruction.
- Context (optional) is the actual data in your worksheet that you want the AI to work on. It can be a single cell or a range of cells. If you don’t provide context, the AI responds to the prompt alone.
For example, if you enter the following formula:
=COPILOT("Summarize the feedback from these comments", C2:C10)
Excel will generate a short summary based on the text in cells C2 to C10.
4] Review and refine the output
Review the results you receive. The AI’s answer might need small edits to fit your exact needs.
Also, based on your prompt and the data you reference, the function may sometimes generate multiple results that automatically spill into the surrounding cells in your worksheet.
When to use and when not to use the COPILOT function
Microsoft recommends using the COPILOT function selectively. Here are the scenarios where it works best, and where it should be avoided:
When to use the COPILOT function
- Summarizing or condensing text
- Generating sample or placeholder data
- Classifying or tagging content
- Brainstorming and creating simple text
When not to use the COPILOT function
- Performing numerical calculations
- Lookups based on data in your workbook
- Tasks with legal, compliance, or regulatory impact
- Relying on recent or real-time data
- Any task that requires accuracy
Note:
- The function requires an active internet connection to access the AI model.
- It does not work in workbooks labelled as ‘Confidential’ or ‘Highly Confidential’.
- It dynamically calls the AI model and updates in real time based on changes in your referenced data. This ensures that the AI’s output stays aligned with your dataset.
- Your data remains private and is only processed temporarily to generate the output you requested. Microsoft does not collect or reuse your data to train or improve its AI models.
- You can calculate up to 100 COPILOT functions every 10 minutes.
I hope you find this useful.
Read: 10 Copilot prompts for Excel.
How can I use Copilot in Excel?
You can use Copilot in Excel in two different ways. First, through the built-in Copilot feature, which opens in a side panel and provides a chatbot-like experience where you type questions in natural language and get instant answers. Second, through the COPILOT function, which works like any other Excel function, except that it lets you pass instructions and data as arguments. The AI processes these instructions and data to generate results.
Why don’t I see Copilot in Excel?
If you don’t see Copilot in Excel on your Windows 11/10 PC, you might not have the appropriate license for your Microsoft 365 subscription, or your organization’s admin hasn’t enabled it yet. Also, it may be possible that you’re not on the latest version of Excel where Copilot is supported, or you have not enabled Connected Experiences in your account settings.
Read Next: Top 5 Best AI tools for Excel.
