Microsoft Excel October 2026 Update Brings 5 New Copilot Features and Smarter Data Tools

Microsoft Excel is getting a serious Copilot upgrade in October 2026, with five new features designed to simplify data preparation, automate repetitive work, and turn spreadsheets into interactive reports. Microsoft is also bringing a handy table-naming feature to Excel for Windows, making the latest update worth checking out.

Microsoft Excel gets five new Copilot capabilities

The biggest changes focus on making Copilot more useful across everyday spreadsheet tasks. The new Clean Data skill identifies duplicate values, extra spaces, inconsistent formatting, and incorrect data types. Users can review its suggested fixes before applying them to their workbooks.

Microsoft is also introducing Skill Recorder for Insiders on Windows and Mac, while the feature is generally available on the web. It watches how users complete recurring tasks and turns those steps into reusable skills.

Meanwhile, Skill Builder lets users describe their preferred workflows, provide instructions, or share examples. Copilot can then turn that information into a reusable skill, reducing the need to repeat the same instructions.

Excel is also getting Interactive Canvas. This feature turns workbook data into dynamic reports for executive reviews, project updates, and other presentations. Since the canvas remains connected to the workbook, it updates when the underlying data changes.

Excel makes data imports and table creation easier

Excel for the web is getting the new Get Data skill, which prepares and imports data through Power Query. Users can describe what they need, while Copilot handles the connection and transformation process. The resulting query remains available for inspection, editing, and refreshing. Authentication may be required for certain data sources. Another welcome change concerns table naming. Excel for Windows users can now name tables while creating them, following its earlier availability as an Insider feature.

When can you use the new Excel features?

Availability varies by feature. Clean Data and Skill Builder are rolling out to general availability across platforms, while Skill Recorder remains in testing on Windows and Mac. Interactive Canvas is currently available to Windows Insiders and is coming soon to the web. Get Data is available in Excel for the web. Microsoft also notes that these features are rolling out gradually, so some users may need to wait before accessing them.