From Agent Mode to Power Query: Microsoft Details New Excel Features Rolled Out in January 2026

Microsoft has restarted its monthly feature round-up, detailing how Excel changed during January 2026 across Windows, Mac, and the web. The headline upgrade is Agent Mode, built on Copilot, but there are also new import tools, better error messages, fresh web Power Query options, and expanded Office Scripts automation that addresses long-standing user requests.

These additions follow a brief pause in Microsoft’s recap schedule at the end of 2025. The focus now shifts firmly to productivity, especially for people who use Excel every day at work. Many of the tools help those who find complex formulas difficult, while others streamline routine tasks like importing data or sharing finished reports.

Excel Agent Mode and Copilot Features

Agent Mode for Excel on Windows is the most notable change this month. It extends Microsoft’s Copilot approach by letting people describe goals in plain language instead of building step-by-step formulas. Users can request complete solutions for analysis, modelling, or reporting, and Copilot generates the underlying structure, which lowers the barrier for advanced spreadsheet tasks.

Microsoft presents Agent Mode in Excel as a way to reduce friction for users who struggle with intricate spreadsheet logic. Rather than thinking about individual functions, people can focus on the outcome they want. This intent-based style keeps Excel powerful for detailed work but makes the interface feel more approachable, especially during complex projects or time-sensitive reports.

New Excel Tools on Windows

Beyond Agent Mode, Excel for Windows gains two features aimed at everyday efficiency. A set of new Import functions lets users pull data directly from.txt and.csv files without opening Power Query. This offers a quicker route for simple, structured imports when a full query setup would be unnecessary overhead.

The second Windows change targets formula troubleshooting in Excel. Error cards are now more descriptive, explaining what went wrong and offering clearer context. That extra detail should make debugging large or interconnected workbooks less stressful. At this stage, both the Import functions and the enhanced error cards are limited to Excel Insiders and have not reached the broader user base.

Power Query Upgrades on Mac and Web Excel

Mac users also receive Agent Mode in Excel, bringing their Copilot workflows closer to what is available on Windows. The interface is designed to behave consistently across platforms, so Mac users can describe tasks in natural language as well. They can then rely on Excel to assemble the more technical elements in the background.

For Excel on the web, the standout update is the full arrival of Power Query. Users can now import, transform, and edit data directly inside a browser session, using the familiar path through the Data > Get Data menu. It supports several authenticated sources and mirrors many of the capabilities known from Power BI Desktop and Excel on Windows.

There is, however, a clear limit for web users of Excel. The complete Power Query experience in a browser requires a business or enterprise subscription. Even with that restriction, the update narrows the gap between web and desktop Excel, making browser-based work more suitable for serious data projects where transformation steps matter.

Office Scripts Automation in Excel and Author Background

One cross-platform upgrade touches Excel on Windows, Mac, and the web through Office Scripts. Users can now automate saving a worksheet as a PDF and sending it by email to themselves or colleagues. Microsoft labels this as “Feedback in Action”, signalling that the workflow came directly from strong community demand and repeated user suggestions.

Taken together, the January 2026 updates move Excel towards more natural language control, easier data access, and better automation. Agent Mode and Power Query enhancements help with advanced analysis, while Office Scripts and clearer error cards refine daily workflows. Many features are still rolling out, yet they already reshape how people prepare and share spreadsheets.