Microsoft is dropping its Excel Copilot function after only a year - and without ever getting a full public launch

Date:
Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:05:00 +0000

Description:
Microsoft Excel's COPILOT() function will soon bite the dust.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Microsoft Excel is pulling the COPILOT () function Function allowed users to describe tasks in natural language, including as part of a formula It never reached public launch, and has now been overtaken by other tools Microsoft is dropping its COPILOT function in Excel as part of its wide-ranging overhauls to the AI platform.

In a Message Center alert , the company warned users that the tool will be pulled on September 14, 2026. First announced in August 2025 and originally set for launch in January 2027, the tool has been in testing for over a year with Frontier and Insider users, but Microsoft has apparently decided not to move forward with its service. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Copilot dismissed At launch, Microsoft had described the COPILOT () function as helping users to describe tasks in natural language, including as part of a formula, before receiving the results created by Copilot, in their cells, without needing to open up a separate Copilot window

It proved an initial hit for tasks such as text summarization,
classification, content generation, and looking up information on the Internet. You may like Microsoft is fuelling up Excel with lots more AI tools for finance workers Microsoft makes Copilot Cowork open to everyone, and
wants to help you tackle even the trickiest work tasks Microsoft is using an old design for Copilot again despite removal promises

Some examples of =COPILOT's use cases include summarizing customer feedback, categorizing data, integrating external knowledge and formatting.

In its most simple form, a function might look like "=COPILOT(prompt_part1, [context1])" though context is optional. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me
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Microsoft did say the function should not be used for numerical calculations, which might have been a major use cases for many - as well as saying users should avoid using it for gathering and finding information already stored inside a workbook or for content subject due to legal and compliance requirements.

So what's next? Microsoft explained that it is removing the COPILOT()
function as it believes Excel cam already provide other, more effective ways to access the same AI capabilities.

Users can continue working with Copilot through both the Copilot side panel and the floating Dynamic Action Button (DAB), making a dedicated function slightly redundant. What to read next Microsoft reveals Scout, its first "Autopilot" Microsoft makes major Teams AI U-turn following user revolt Copilot ad shows how marketing can undermine the effort to fix Windows 11

The move comes as Microsoft makes a number of changes to AI capabilities within Excel as user demands continue to evolve and change.

This includes a new update to Copilot in Excel aimed specifically at finance workers, positioning the spreadsheet software as an AI-powered tool for financial modelling, forecasting and reporting.

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