Security· August 17, 2026 at 10:55 a.m.
Microsoft Retires Excel's COPILOT() Function, Favoring Side Pane AI Assistant
Key takeaways
- Microsoft is retiring Excel's COPILOT() function
- The function will no longer be available from September 14, 2026
- Users can continue using Copilot through the side pane
Microsoft has announced that it will retire the COPILOT() function in Excel on September 14, 2026. Introduced in August 2025, the function allowed users to send instructions to Microsoft's AI assistant directly from a worksheet cell. The company now believes the Copilot side pane provides sufficient AI assistance and will no longer support the COPILOT() function. Users can continue using Copilot through the Copilot side pane, which offers similar capabilities. Microsoft had initially planned to make the function generally available in 2027 but has since decided not to move forward with it.
