Applies To

This article is for people who use a screen reader program such as Windows Narrator, JAWS, or NVDA with Windows tools or features and Microsoft 365 products. This article is part of the Accessibility help & learning content set where you can find more accessibility information on our apps. For general help, visit Microsoft Support.

Copilot in Excel helps you to manage your data by suggesting formulas for complex calculations, allowing you to conditionally format tables, and providing insights and analysis for your data into your data. It is designed to enhance productivity and simplify complex tasks. For more great ideas on using Copilot in Excel, go to the Excel Blog.

Notes: 

In this topic

Navigate Copilot in Excel

Generate formulas using Copilot

Understand and Explain Data

Apply color and formatting

Copilot for Advanced analysis

Ask copilot

Navigate the prompt guide

Generate a prompt using voice commands

Enhance your experience with dynamic prompts

Generate formulas using Copilot

Copilot streamlines the creation of complex formulas with step-by-step guidance. Users can quickly construct accurate calculations, reducing the need for manual input and minimizing errors.​​​​​​​

  1. Open the Copilot chat pane using Alt+H, followed by F, X.

  2. To generate a formula based on your workbook data, type "Suggest a formula column" in the prompt edit box, provide a description of the columns or rows to address, press the Tab key to select the Send button, and then press Enter.

    Note:  If you want to stop the generation process, navigate, using Tab or Shift+Tab and select the Stop generating button.

  3. Navigate using Tab and select the generated response, then press Enter to interact with it. 

    Note: : To display the formula explanation, navigate and select the Show explanation button.

  4. Use the Tab key to select the Insert column button, and press Enter to apply the formula. Or do one of the following:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

  • To refresh the existing prompts in the suggested prompts group, select the Refresh button.

  • For a new column suggestion, select the Give me another column suggestion button.​​​​​​​

Understand and explain data

Copilot provides detailed summaries of key insights, explains trends, and identifies outliers in your data, helping users analyze patterns and draw meaningful conclusions from it.

  1. Open the Copilot chat pane using Alt+H, followed by F, X.

  2. To explore the data in the table using Copilot, type "Show data insights" in the prompt edit box and press Enter.

  3. Navigate using the Tab key and select the generated response.

    • Press Enter to engage with the generated response.

    • Press Tab to navigate through the generated response.

      Note: a chart is generated, press Tab to navigate to the Insert Chart button, then press Enter to explore the chart.

  4. To explore additional prompts in the Copilot chat pane, press Tab to select a prompt, then press Enter to generate a response based on the prompt chosen.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Apply color and formatting

Copilot can customize your data presentation by color-coding cells, and assisting you in highlighting, filtering, and sorting information effectively.

  1. Open the Copilot chat pane using Alt+H, followed by F, X.

  2. To format the data in the table, type "Highlight all cells with" in the prompt edit box, provide the necessary details, and press Tab to select the Send button, then press Enter to generate a response based on your prompt.

    Note: If you want to stop the generation process, navigate, and select the Stop generating button.​​​​​​​

  3. Navigate using the Tab key and select the generated response.

    • Press Enter to engage with the generated response.

    • Press Tab to navigate through the generated response.

  4. To apply the changes to the workbook, press the Tab key to select the Apply button, then press Enter.

Copilot for Advanced analysis

Copilot can handle advanced data analysis tasks such as creating pivot tables, running statistical analysis, and generating projections or forecasts.

  1. Open the Copilot chat pane using Alt+H, followed by F, X.

  2. To begin advanced analysis, type either "Analyze this data using Python" or "Run advanced analysis using Python" in the prompt edit box and press Enter.

  3. Press the Tab key until you hear "Chat messages list." Then, press Enter to engage with the chat.

  4. Use the Tab key to select the Start advanced analysis button, and press Enter to initiate the advanced analysis mode.

    Notes: 

    • If you want to stop the generation process, navigate, and select the Stop generating button.

    • Once the advanced analysis starts, Copilot creates a new sheet for your analysis and inserts any necessary Python code.

    • To ask any follow-up questions, you can either select one of the prompts from the suggested prompts group or manually type instructions in the prompt edit box.​​​​​​​

  5. To request an explanation about the analysis, press the Tab key to select the Show explanation button, and then press Enter.

  6. To exit advanced analysis mode, press the Tab key to select the Stop advanced analysis button and press Enter.

Ask copilot

Ask Copilot allows users to effortlessly interact with their data within Excel. This feature helps users to work with the data without needing to have advanced formulas or Excel knowledge, as Copilot handles complex questions and provides direct guidance.​​​​​​​

  1. Open the Copilot chat pane using Alt+H, followed by F, X.

  2. To ask Copilot a question, type it into the prompt box, such as "How do I sum values in a column?" and press Enter.

  3. Navigate through the generated responses using Tab or Shift+Tab.

    1. Press Enter to engage with the generated response.

    2. Use the Tab key to navigate through the generated response, and press Esc to return to the list.

  4. To learn more of what Copilot can help with, type more questions in the edit field, like "How can Copilot help?" For more sample prompts, go to Copilot Prompts.

Generate a prompt using voice commands

The voice command feature enables you to interact with the application hands-free. This feature makes workflows smoother and helps you navigate and enter data more easily.

  1. In the prompt edit, press Tab until you hear “Microphone paused switch,” then press Enter.

  2. The system will announce "microphone listening" once it activates the microphone.

  3. Start entering commands using your voice, press Tab to select the Send button and press Enter.

  4. Navigate using Tab and select the generated response. Press Enter to engage with the generated response, and press Esc to navigate out of the message and back to the list.

Enhance your experience with dynamic prompts

The new dynamic bubbles in the Getting Started experience within the Copilot chat pane offer an interactive and engaging way to guide users through their journey. These bubbles dynamically adapt based on the context, providing helpful tips, suggestions, and quick actions to enhance the user experience. This feature makes it easier for users to explore and get familiar with Copilot's capabilities, ensuring a smoother onboarding process.

See also

Identify insights with Copilot in Excel

Highlight, sort, and filter your data with Copilot in Excel ​​​​​​​

Microsoft Copilot help & learning

Get started with Copilot in Excel

Technical support for customers with disabilities 

Microsoft wants to provide the best possible experience for all our customers. If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies and can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. Please go to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find out the contact details for your region.

If you are a government, commercial, or enterprise user, please contact the enterprise Disability Answer Desk.

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.