Microsoft is bringing its most advanced AI collaborator to the Excel desktop app. Previously only accessible in Excel for the web, Agent Mode is now generally available on Windows and Mac, allowing Copilot to build complex workbooks, fix formulas, and even let you choose between models.
This update brings us a major shift in how we interact with spreadsheets. While we have seen a bunch of AI assistants integrated into Office apps over the past couple of years, including the COPILOT function in Excel, the introduction of Agent Mode to the desktop app represents a move away from simple chatbots toward autonomous agents that can navigate the grid just like you and I would. Unlike the standard Copilot sidebar, which often acts like a high-end search engine, Agent Mode is an active participant in our workflow. It rolls up its sleeves and performs the tasks directly in the grid.
The distinction is vital: while the original Copilot experience in Excel was largely conversational, asking you to confirm every tiny step, Agent Mode is much more focused on the outcome. You tell it the destination, and the Agent maps out and drives the route, creating the necessary infrastructure within your file to get there. In other words, instead of having to figure out the five or six distinct steps required to build a complex dashboard or a multi-sheet tracker, you can simply tell it your end goal. For example, if you ask it to “build a debt repayment tracker with a visualization of interest saved,” the Agent creates the tables, populates the logic, generates the charts, and formats the entire project, all while you watch it work in real time.
Here’s how to get started:
- Open Excel on your desktop or in your browser.
- Click “Copilot” and select “Agent Mode” in the Tools menu.
- Enter a prompt. Microsoft’s example is, “Build a loan calculator that computes monthly payments based on user inputs for loan amount, annual interest rate, and term in years. Generate a schedule showing month, payment, principal, interest, and remaining balance. Present the results in a clear, formatted table.”
One of the most useful parts of this release is the introduction of the model switcher. Microsoft recognizes that different large language models (LLMs) have different personalities and strengths. Some models are built for rigid math and speed, while others are better at explaining complex logical steps or handling creative requests. For this reason, Agent Mode lets you toggle between OpenAI (GPT-5.2), the powerhouse for structured tasks, and Anthropic (Claude Opus 4.5), which is often preferred for tasks that require more human-like reasoning or detailed iterative planning. If one model hits a wall, you can simply swap brains and see if the other model can solve the puzzle.
Credit: Microsoft
To add to this, Microsoft has included web-grounded search, which allows the Agent to look up real-time data, such as current exchange rates, inflation statistics, or stock prices, and pull that information directly into your sheet with proper citations.
The Agent is also a pro at handling messy data, like spreadsheets with missing headers, inconsistent date formats, and irregular spacing that usually cause AI to stumble. What’s more, if you have a massive workbook with broken links or circular references, it can find those errors and suggest repairs through dedicated “fix-it” logic. This means that, overall, the assistant plays two crucial roles in your spreadsheet: creation and maintenance.
Related
No, Microsoft Office didn’t just get renamed to Microsoft 365 Copilot
The Word shortcut in your taskbar will still be called Word.
Agent Mode is available to those using Excel on Windows and Mac with a Microsoft 365 Copilot commercial license or a Personal or Family subscription. Just a heads-up for those in the EU and UK: due to local regulations and data privacy frameworks, this feature is currently unavailable in your region. For everyone else, it’s time to see if your new AI assistant can finally handle that daunting spreadsheet you’ve been avoiding.
Source: Microsoft Excel Blog
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