Microsoft's popular spreadsheet software continues to evolve with significant new capabilities that push the boundaries of what users can accomplish. Recent developments have transformed Excel from a simple spreadsheet tool into a powerful platform for advanced data analysis, programming, and even operating system emulation.
Python Integration Brings Advanced Data Analysis to Excel
Microsoft has bridged the gap between spreadsheets and data science by integrating Python directly into Excel. This powerful feature allows users to leverage Python's extensive libraries for data analysis without leaving the familiar Excel interface. The integration supports core Python libraries provided by Anaconda, enabling users to perform sophisticated data manipulation, statistical analysis, and visualization tasks.
The Python functionality in Excel works by creating DataFrames from Excel tables, which can then be manipulated using pandas and other Python libraries. Users can describe datasets, run queries, create visualizations, and perform complex calculations that would be difficult or impossible with standard Excel functions. For example, users can filter high-value products based on specific criteria or create custom visualizations using libraries like Matplotlib and Seaborn.
Currently, this feature is available only on Windows platforms and requires the latest version of Excel. The integration uses a standard version of Python from Microsoft Cloud rather than any locally installed version, ensuring consistency across different systems.
Python in Excel Key Features
- Available on Windows only (not Mac, web, tablet, or mobile)
- Uses standard Python from Microsoft Cloud
- Supports core Python libraries from Anaconda
- Creates DataFrames from Excel tables
- Enables advanced data analysis and visualization
- Automatically refreshes output when source data changes
April 2025 Brings Significant Feature Updates
Microsoft has rolled out several new features to Excel across Windows, Mac, and web platforms in April 2025. One of the most notable additions is enhanced Copilot integration, allowing users to describe what they want to create when they're unsure where to start. Copilot can suggest and refine templates with headers, formulas, and visuals based on user prompts. This feature is currently available for Excel web users and is rolling out to Current Channel Windows users.
Another useful addition is the ability to upload phone images directly with Copilot. Users now see a new Upload from phone option alongside existing features like Upload from this device and Paste image, making it easier to incorporate mobile content into spreadsheets.
Mac users received a feature that Windows users have enjoyed for some time: the ability to view multiple worksheets from the same or different workbooks side by side. This functionality is available in Excel Version 16.97 (Build 25041535) or later on Mac.
April 2025 Excel Updates
- Copilot integration for template creation
- Phone image upload capability
- Multiple worksheet viewing for Mac users
- Value tokens for data type visualization (Insiders)
- Enhanced dark mode (Windows Current Channel)
- ActiveX disabled by default for security
Insider Channel Previews Future Enhancements
For those on the Insider Channel, Microsoft has introduced several experimental features that will eventually make their way to regular users. These include value tokens, which provide visual indicators for cells containing data types or rich formats, helping users differentiate between data types in a spreadsheet. This feature is currently limited to Windows Insiders but will soon roll out to other Excel clients, including Mac, Android, iOS, and web.
Security improvements are also coming, with ActiveX controls now disabled by default due to their potential security risks from deep access to system resources. Additionally, dark mode has been enhanced to support both menu controls and sheet backgrounds for Current Channel users on Windows.
Developer Gets Linux Running Inside Excel
In an impressive technical feat, developer NSG650 has managed to get Linux running within Microsoft Excel. The GitHub-hosted project, aptly named LinuxInExcel, uses a RISC-V emulator built by fellow developer cnlohr and Microsoft VBA macros to call the emulator in a DLL, which then outputs the results to cells in the spreadsheet.
While the developer admits the implementation is very buggy and was done mostly for fun, it has already seen improvements with the addition of input support by YouTuber Enderman. The project demonstrates the flexibility and extensibility of Excel as a platform, even if running an operating system inside a spreadsheet application isn't the most practical use case.
This development joins a long line of similar coding feats, such as running various software inside PDFs, and shows how developers continue to push the boundaries of what's possible within seemingly limited software environments.
The Future of Excel as a Platform
These developments highlight Microsoft's commitment to evolving Excel beyond its traditional role as a spreadsheet application. By integrating advanced programming capabilities, artificial intelligence through Copilot, and continuously improving the user experience, Excel is becoming a comprehensive data analysis and visualization platform.
The Python integration particularly stands out as a game-changer for data analysts and scientists who previously had to switch between Excel and specialized programming environments. Now, they can leverage the power of Python's data science ecosystem directly within the familiar Excel interface, streamlining workflows and making advanced analysis more accessible to users with varying technical backgrounds.
As Microsoft continues to add features and improve Excel's capabilities, users can expect even more powerful tools for data manipulation, analysis, and visualization in future updates. Whether you're a casual user creating simple spreadsheets or a data scientist performing complex analyses, Excel's expanding feature set offers something for everyone.