Summary
- Excel is retiring live Power Pivot Data Model and Power BI connection interactions in embedded workbooks, SharePoint File and Media web parts, and Excel on mobile.
- Affected workbooks will still open and display, but connection-dependent actions such as refreshing PivotTables/Query Tables, changing PivotTable fields, filtering, and using connected slicers will no longer work in those experiences.
- Users who need those functions will be directed to open the workbook in Excel Desktop or the standard Excel for the web experience.
- Administrators should identify any impacted workbooks and update user guidance, site instructions, and workflow links where these embedded or mobile scenarios are used.
- No tenant configuration change is required, but communications to affected users and site owners are recommended.
Primary Service: Excel
Admin Impact: Medium
User Impact: Medium
Release Start: 01 Feb 2027
Release End: 01 Feb 2027
Services: Excel, M365 Apps, Power BI, SharePoint
Category: Plan for change
Tags: Admin Action, Retirement, User Adoption
History
10/30/2026 Item Added to Message Center
Microsoft Message
Excel is removing operations that require a live Power Pivot Data Model or Power BI connection in embedded workbooks, on mobile devices, and in the File and Media web part in SharePoint. Authentication tokens required to connect to the Power BI service are not available in the affected experiences. As a result, operations that require live access to a Power Pivot Data Model or Power BI connection will be unavailable.
Workbooks will continue to open and display normally. However, operations that require querying the connected model will not be available. This includes refreshing connected PivotTables and Query Tables, changing PivotTable fields, filtering data, interacting with connected slicers, and other connection-dependent interactions.
If a user attempts an unsupported operation, they will be directed to open the workbook in a supported experience, such as Excel Desktop or Excel for the Web.
Rollout Schedule
- Global: We will begin rolling out on early February 2027.
- Sovereign Cloud: We will begin rolling out on early March 2027.
Impact on Your Organization
Customers can continue to open and view their workbooks, and this change will not remove workbook or Data Model content. However, in SharePoint Excel Web Parts, embedded Excel workbooks, and Excel sessions on mobile, they will no longer be able to perform operations that require a live Power Pivot Data Model or Power BI connection. These include refreshing connected PivotTables or QueryTables, changing PivotTable fields, filtering connected data, and using connected slicers. To perform those operations, customers will need to open the workbook in Excel Desktop or the standard Excel for the web experience. Organizations that rely on these interactions in embedded or mobile workflows may need to update their instructions or workflows.
Action Required/Recommendations
No tenant configuration change is required. Before the change takes effect, administrators should identify workbooks that their organization presents through SharePoint Excel Web Parts, embedded Excel for the web views, or mobile experiences, particularly those that rely on Power Pivot Data Model or Power BI connections. They should let affected users and site owners know that the workbooks will still open and display, but connection-dependent actions such as refresh, PivotTable changes, filtering, and connected slicer interactions will no longer work in those experiences. For workflows that need those actions, users should open the workbook in Excel Desktop or the standard Excel for the web experience instead. Administrators may also need to update internal guidance or links for affected workflows.
Compliance considerations
No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.