Excel copilot function not available

Question

Hello,

There is a new function in excel, =Copilot (as seen here: https://youtu.be/xWs0ZXY7gTY?si=lMk5qjXEPiQSZOS6&t=55)

When I type the function in Excel it isn't recognized.

I've followed every conceivable solution provided online:

• I have a Microsoft subscription that includes Copilot
• I have a copilot license
• I have the latest/updated version of Excel
• I've tried it on both tables and ranges

The only other thing I see (which I have no idea how to verify) is "Microsoft may not have enabled the feature in your tenant" - zero idea how I would verify that?

What else could I possibly do?

Would appreciate any help. Please and thank you.

Answer 1

Hello @Max Pargament, 

Thank you for responding. 

I believe many users would also be interested in the Excel Copilot feature, and your case could serve as a helpful reference for them.   

Therefore, I would make a brief summary of this post so that other forum members could easily find useful information here:  

Issue Description:   

The =Copilot() function in Excel is part of Microsoft’s new AI-powered experience designed to help users analyze data, generate insights, and automate tasks directly within spreadsheets.  

It leverages the power of Copilot to understand context and provide intelligent suggestions based on your data. 

 

Note:  

• This feature is currently in preview (beta) and is being gradually rolled out to eligible Microsoft 365 tenants. 
• Additionally, you can have access through the Microsoft 365 Insider Program. 

Latest Update:

Because this feature is still in development, if the function isn’t available in your Excel yet, you may need to wait for Microsoft to enable it in your environment. 

To stay informed about any updates or changes, you can check the following official sources: 

• COPILOT Function: This is the official page for the =Copilot() function and will likely be updated as the feature becomes more widely available. 
• Microsoft 365 Roadmap | Microsoft 365: Track upcoming features and availability across Microsoft 365 products. 

Once again, thank you again for raising this issue; it’s helped broaden my understanding. I hope you understand that I want to help as much as I can within the scope of this forum.      

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I truly believe many users are still unaware of this new Copilot feature in Excel, and because this feature is still in preview and rolling out gradually, your question helps bring visibility to the requirements and limitations that others might also encounter. 

If you find any part of my response helpful, you can consider marking it as the accepted answer. Once marked, it will automatically pin to top. Since many other users also search for information in this community, your valuable contribution will help them easily find the right channel and useful insights more quickly. 

Answer 2

Hello @Max Pargament,  

Thank you for reaching out to the Q&A forum! 

I’ve reviewed the video and tested the =Copilot() function in my own environment. 

I’m currently using a Microsoft 365 E5 subscription (without Teams), which includes Copilot, and as far as I can tell, I don’t have a separate Copilot license assigned.  

Despite that, the function works perfectly in my Excel environment, and I haven’t encountered the issue you described. 

 However, you need make sure that the =Copilot() function only works if you're on the Current Channel or Monthly Enterprise Channel. 

• You can check this by going to Excel =>File =>Account =>About Excel. 
• If you see “Current Channel” or “Monthly Enterprise Channel,” you're good to go. 

If it says, “Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel,” the function won’t be available yet. 

Additionally, to support you better, please provide me more detail: 

1.Could you please share a screenshot confirming: 

• You have a Microsoft subscription that includes Copilot. 
• You have a Copilot license assigned. 

You can check this by visiting: https://portal.office.com/account/?ref=Harmony 

2.Regarding the message “Microsoft may not have enabled the feature in your tenant”, it sounds like you’ve seen this error.  

If so, could you please share a screenshot of that message? 

Lastly, I noticed a note in this article: COPILOT Function - Microsoft Support 

Note: Since this is a relatively new feature, some of the requirements or limitations may not be clearly documented yet.

After receiving your reply and screenshots confirming your setup.

If needed, I’ll guide you on how to reach out to Microsoft’s higher-level technical team, so they can help verify your tenant configuration on the backend and investigate further if needed.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

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Answer 3

Hi Tina,

Thanks for your response.

Unfortunately my issue still persists. But hoping we will eventually get it resolved :)

 

Regarding #1 (https://portal.office.com/account/?ref=Harmony#subscriptions) – here is everything I have related to copilot:

Regarding #2: I haven’t seen the actual error – it was listed as a possible issue from a Microsoft page – which unfortunately I’m unable to locate right now.

 

Other information:

Regarding currently channel: I have that

Regarding this link you sent (COPILOT Function - Microsoft Support)

^Not sure if this is a setting or just wording in the file name or workbook…but can confirm my file is not labelled/named confidential anywhere.

Answer 4

Hello @Max Pargament,  

Thank you for your detailed response. 

As I mentioned earlier, based on the official COPILOT Function - Microsoft Support article, the =Copilot() function is currently only available in the Beta Channel and is being gradually rolled out to select users for testing and stability purposes. 

So even though you have the correct license and are on the Current Channel, it’s very likely that this feature hasn’t been rolled out to your tenant yet, which explains why the function isn’t recognized. 

If you’d like early access, you can consider joining the Microsoft 365 Insider Program via this link: Join the Microsoft 365 Insider program - Microsoft Support 

I also found a helpful article that walks through how to join the Microsoft 365 Insider Program, which is currently the only way to access the =Copilot() function in Excel while it's still in Beta Preview: How to use COPILOT function in Excel? 

Note: Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. The sites are not controlled by Microsoft. Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. Please make sure that you completely understand the risk before retrieving any suggestions from the above link.

However, if you believe you meet all the eligibility criteria and should have access to this feature, this is what I strongly recommend: 

You can ask your IT administrator to escalate this to Microsoft’s higher-level technical support team to verify your tenant configuration and rollout status: 

• You can go to: Microsoft 365 Admin Center.       
• Navigate to: Support => New service request        

 

   For reference: Get support - Microsoft 365 admin | Microsoft Learn 

• In the description, you can use the following sample description:   

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“Hello, 

We are trying to use the new =Copilot() function in Excel, which is part of Microsoft 365 Copilot. 

• Our user has a valid Microsoft 365 subscription that includes Copilot, and the Copilot license is assigned. 
• The user is on the Current Channel with the latest Excel version (Build 19127.20240), and the workbook is not labeled as Confidential. 

However, the =Copilot() function is not recognized in Excel and does not appear to be available. 

We understand from Microsoft documentation that this feature is currently rolling out via the Beta Channel and may not be enabled for all tenants. 

We would like to confirm whether this feature has been enabled for our tenant, and if not, when we can expect access. 

We would like to reach out to appropriate technical support that verify our tenant configuration and advise on next steps to enable the =Copilot() function.” 

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When the ticket is opened, Microsoft’s backend team can check your tenant status and provide a clear answer.

Once again, thank you again for raising this issue; it’s helped broaden my understanding. 

I truly believe many users are still unaware of this new Copilot feature in Excel, and because this feature is still in preview and rolling out gradually, your question helps bring visibility to the requirements and limitations that others might also encounter. 

If you find any part of my response helpful, you can consider marking it as the accepted answer. Once marked, it will automatically pin to top. As other users will also search information in this community, this will help other users discover the feature, understand how to check their eligibility, and know how to escalate to Microsoft support if needed. 

Answer 5

Because the formula is still in beta it is only available by joining the micorosoft insider program. IT gave me the option to join this program, but there are risks associated with it - like crashing your Excel and potentially having to install a different version of windows.

So I have decided it would be best to just wait for a general release - which IT said is scheduled for Q4 of this year.

They didn't have an answer to this but maybe you do - is there a resource/page I can check for updates to see when Microsoft announces a release to all tenants?

Thanks!