Summary
- Microsoft Excel on iPhone will gain “Edit with Copilot,” allowing users to edit and transform workbooks using natural language.
- Copilot can continue processing tasks in the background, and chat mode remains available for questions and insights without making workbook changes.
- The feature applies to Excel mobile users in Microsoft 365 and respects existing authentication, licensing, permissions, tenant-level Copilot settings, and Microsoft 365 content permissions.
- No admin action is required, but IT should be aware that users may begin using Copilot-assisted workbook editing from their iPhone.
- Users should still review AI-generated edits and workbook changes before relying on them.
Primary Service: Excel
Admin Impact: Low
User Impact: Medium
Release Start: 01 Oct 2026
Release End: 30 Nov 2026
Services: Excel, M365 Apps, M365 Copilot, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams
Category: Stay informed
Tags: New Feature, User Adoption
History
10/27/2026 Item Added to Message Center
Microsoft Message
Edit with Copilot makes it easier to edit and transform your Excel workbooks on your phone using natural language. Copilot can continue working on your task even when you move away from the app, so you can come back when the work is ready. Chat mode also remains available when you want to ask questions and get insights without making changes to your workbook.
Rollout Schedule
General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out late October 2026 and expect to complete by late November 2026.
Impact on Your Organization
This feature helps customers move beyond viewing spreadsheets on their phones and complete meaningful Excel work when a laptop is not readily available. Users can get quick answers from workbook data, make targeted updates, generate or modify formulas and visualizations, and review workbook changes from their iPhone.
For organizations, the feature can help employees respond more quickly while travelling, between meetings, or working away from their primary device. It uses existing Microsoft 365 authentication, licensing, permissions, metering, and tenant-level Copilot controls. Enterprise grounding continues to respect the user’s existing permissions to Microsoft 365 content, including SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams.
Users remain responsible for reviewing AI-generated content and workbook changes before relying on them. Changes saved to a shared workbook are visible to other people who have access to that file, and users can use available review, undo, or version-history capabilities when needed.
Action Required/Recommendations
None
Compliance considerations
No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.