Microsoft Excel's November 2025 update delivers a small but strategic set of new features that quietly reshape how people work with data, AI, and UX across platforms.
Refreshed Excel vision
Microsoft is using these November 2025 Excel updates to push spreadsheet software from static grids toward an AI-first, collaboration-aware workspace that fits naturally into modern online communication and productivity flows. The cadence of monthly Excel updates now mirrors what the tech firm has done with Teams, signaling that spreadsheets are central to its broader collaboration software ecosystem.
Agent Mode and AI advancements
The headline Excel updates center on Agent Mode, which turns Microsoft Excel into an active AI partner rather than a passive calculation tool. Agent Mode can now pull context from the web through integrated web search, tap Anthropic's Claude models, and run directly on Windows, giving Frontier organizations a way to automate multi-step tasks and data workflows in a scalable manner. This expansion shows how Microsoft and Anthropic are positioning Claude models as core engines for reasoning over structured data, not just text, which has deep implications for how analysts and knowledge workers design their day-to-day workflows around AI advancements.
Early access and data ingestion
These AI-powered Excel updates are limited to Beta Channel Insiders on Windows, underscoring how Microsoft uses early adopters to shape features before general availability and Mac rollout. At the same time, a modernized Get Data dialog refines the data ingestion journey, suggesting that the next competitive battleground in spreadsheet software is how quickly and intuitively users can connect to, clean, and reshape data from many sources. Organizations looking to streamline their data workflows might benefit from exploring n8n's flexible AI workflow automation for technical teams who need the precision of code or the speed of drag-and-drop operations.
Collaboration, comments, and trust
Another new feature links Excel more tightly with email notifications and secure collaboration: users on Windows, web, and iOS can now see comment previews on protected files directly from their inbox. Labeling this change as Feedback in Action (#FIA) highlights how customer-driven refinements—like surfacing comment previews without weakening file protections—are critical for organizations that treat spreadsheets as living collaboration hubs rather than personal documents. For teams seeking enhanced collaboration capabilities, proven customer success frameworks demonstrate how effective communication tools can transform business relationships.
Liquid Glass and design language
On the Apple side, Excel for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro now adopts Liquid Glass styling and moves the search experience to the bottom of the screen to align with iOS 26's design language. This update shows that Microsoft Excel is not only about raw functionality but also about matching platform-native design expectations so that advanced features like search feel invisible, ambient, and natural—especially important as users shift between Windows, web, Mac, and the Insider channel on mobile and mixed reality devices. Teams managing complex workflows across multiple platforms can leverage Make.com's intuitive no-code automation platform to harness the full power of AI while maintaining seamless integration across different tools and environments.
What are the key highlights of Microsoft Excel's November 2025 update?
The update focuses on AI and collaboration: Agent Mode (AI agent capabilities that can pull web context and use Anthropic's Claude), a modernized Get Data dialog for easier ingestion and shaping, comment previews for protected files surfaced via email, and Apple-specific UI updates (Liquid Glass styling and bottom-placed search on iPhone/iPad/Vision Pro). The release continues Microsoft's monthly cadence to tie Excel closer to its collaboration ecosystem.
What is Agent Mode in Excel and what does it do?
Agent Mode turns Excel into an active AI partner able to automate multi-step tasks and workflows, reason over structured data, and assist with complex operations instead of only performing cell calculations. It can pull context from web search, use Anthropic's Claude models for reasoning, and orchestrate multi-step data or analysis tasks. For organizations exploring AI workflow automation, Agent Mode represents a significant shift toward intelligent spreadsheet assistance.
Which AI models power Agent Mode and how are they used?
Agent Mode can tap Anthropic's Claude models as core reasoning engines, applying them to structured data and multi-step workflows (not just free-form text). It also integrates web search to bring external context into analyses. This positions Claude-style models as processors for tabular and business logic tasks within Excel. Organizations implementing agentic AI strategies will find this approach particularly relevant for data-driven decision making.
Who can access these AI-powered features now?
The new AI features are initially available to Beta Channel Insiders on Windows. Microsoft is using early adopters to refine behavior before a broader rollout and a Mac release. Organizations should expect phased availability and continued updates based on Insider feedback. For teams planning AI integration, reviewing AI agent implementation strategies can help prepare for these capabilities.
Can Agent Mode run locally or does it require cloud processing?
The November update indicates Agent Mode can run directly on Windows in supported scenarios, enabling local execution for certain tasks. However, some capabilities—especially those using cloud-hosted models or web search—may still rely on online services depending on configuration and enterprise policies. This hybrid approach aligns with modern AI deployment patterns that balance performance with security requirements.
What changed in the Get Data dialog and why does it matter?
The Get Data dialog was modernized to streamline connecting, cleaning, and reshaping data from diverse sources. The refinement shortens the data ingestion journey, making it faster and more intuitive to bring external data into spreadsheets—an increasingly important battleground for spreadsheet vendors as datasets grow more complex. Teams working with multiple data sources can benefit from comprehensive data analytics frameworks to maximize these improvements.
How do comment previews on protected files work and will they affect file security?
Users on Windows, web, and iOS can now see comment previews for protected files directly from email notifications. Microsoft describes this as a Feedback in Action refinement that surfaces context without weakening file protections—comment previews are shown while preserving the underlying file security and access controls. Organizations managing sensitive data should consider comprehensive security frameworks to ensure these features align with compliance requirements.
What UI changes did Excel receive on Apple platforms?
Excel for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro adopted Liquid Glass styling and moved the search experience to the bottom of the screen to align with iOS 26 design patterns. These changes aim to make advanced features feel ambient and native across Apple devices. For organizations developing cross-platform solutions, understanding mobile development best practices can inform similar UI modernization efforts.
Will these features be available on Mac and when?
The November update is rolling out first to Beta Channel Insiders on Windows. Microsoft typically iterates based on Insider feedback before wider and cross-platform releases, so Mac availability is likely but not immediate—expect staged rollouts and announcements from Microsoft as they validate features. Teams planning multi-platform deployments can reference cloud deployment strategies to prepare for broader availability.
How should organizations prepare for these Excel changes?
Organizations should evaluate governance and security policies for AI usage, pilot Agent Mode with Insider participants, map where Get Data improvements can simplify workflows, and align collaboration practices to leverage comment previews. IT teams may also assess integration points with existing automation tools and model access controls for enterprise compliance. Consider implementing robust internal controls and exploring Zoho One for comprehensive business automation that complements these Excel enhancements.
Does Agent Mode replace macros, Power Query, or existing automation tools?
Agent Mode is complementary rather than a wholesale replacement. Traditional tools like macros and Power Query remain valuable for deterministic automation and ETL tasks. Agent Mode adds AI-driven orchestration and natural-language reasoning that can accelerate or augment those workflows, especially for multi-step, context-rich processes. Organizations can enhance their automation capabilities further with Zoho Flow for comprehensive workflow automation across business applications.
Can Excel's new AI capabilities integrate with no-code or workflow automation platforms?
Yes—the update reinforces Excel's role within broader automation ecosystems. Teams often pair Excel with no-code platforms or workflow automation tools to combine spreadsheet analytics with enterprise automation. Organizations can leverage those integrations to build end-to-end pipelines that include Agent Mode-assisted analysis alongside existing automation stacks. For comprehensive workflow solutions, consider n8n for flexible AI workflow automation or Make.com for visual automation that scales with your business needs.
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