What to Know

• You need a Microsoft 365 and Copilot Pro subscription to use Copilot offline.
• Launch Excel and look for the Copilot ribbon button at the top-right of the screen.
• Select it, and then input your request using the chat bar.

This guide will explain how to use Copilot in Excel in a few quick steps.

How to Get Started With Copilot in Excel

To begin using Copilot in Excel, all you need to do is select the icon, choose the data you want to interact with, and make your request. Here's how to do it.

1. Launch Excel and open the database you want Copilot to work on with you.

2. Select the Copilot ribbon icon in the top-right of the screen. If prompted, enableAutosaveby selecting the green button that pops up, as that's required to use Copilot in Excel.

   

   Microsoft

3. Select the portion of your data that you want Copilot to be able to interact with. You can do that by clicking and dragging with your mouse (or tapping and dragging with your finger). Alternatively, you can select a cell then press theShiftkey and select another cell to choose a range of cells.
   
   For picking individual data points to interact with, you can hold theCtrlkey and select them one by one by clicking or tapping.
   

   

   Jon Martindale

4. Select the chat box that reads "Ask a question or make a request about data in a table," and then type in your request or question.
   

   Alternatively, if you're not sure what to ask, you can select the prompt book icon -- it looks like a notebook -- next to the microphone for some inspiration.

   

   Jon Martindale

5. You can ask something generic like "How can Copilot help me?" to find out what Copilot can do, or be more specific with your request, like asking Copilot to create a graph from your data, sort it in a particular way, or highlight any interesting insights it can discern from your data.

   When you're ready, pressEnteror the arrow icon in the chat window, and then wait a few moments for Copilot to answer your query or request.

6. You can then follow up on that request or question with further prompts based on your own intuition, or if you want inspiration, use the prompt book within the chat window.

Why Can't I Use Copilot in Excel?

If you can launch Copilot in Excel, but find that it won't let you input any requests, it may be because you haven't selected any data for it to work with. Unlike Copilot in other Microsoft 365 applications, like Word and Powerpoint, Copilot in Excel is designed to only work with data, rather than the entire document. You'll need to select the cells you want it to work with before inputting your request.

You'll know whether this is the case, because Copilot will warn you that it only works in an Excel Table.

For further tips on making the most out of Microsoft Copilot, check out our Copilot guide, here.

How to Get Copilot in Excel

To be able to access Copilot in Excel, you need to have a subscription to the Copilot Pro plan. This membership offers a free trial.

Copilot Pro lets you use the tool in the online, free versions of Microsoft 365 Office applications, including Excel. To use it in the offline version, you'll also need a subscription to Microsoft 365 or a free trial.