Microsoft Excel: Enabling M365 subscribers to use Copilot Chat in locally stored modern workbooks
From Microsoft 365 Message Center Archive by Merill Fernando · Microsoft may not have sent this notice to your tenant.Rollout
Rollout dates are often only in the text. When Microsoft moves them, the change shows under "What changed".
What the notice says
Microsoft’s text, safely structuredWe’re enabling Microsoft 365 subscribers to use Copilot Chat when working in Microsoft Excel modern workbooks (.xlsx, .xlsb, .xlsm, .ods, .xltx, .xltm, and .xlam files) stored locally. This brings parity with workbooks stored in SharePoint or OneDrive, allowing users to query Copilot Chat regardless of storage location.
When this will happen
General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin in mid-December 2025 and is expected to complete in January 2026.
How this affects your organization
Who is affected: All Microsoft 365 subscribers using Excel modern workbooks stored locally.
What will happen
- Microsoft 365 subscribers will be able to query Copilot Chat when opening and working in locally stored Excel modern workbooks.
- This feature is enabled by default; no admin action is required.
- There is no impact to existing workflows for workbooks stored in SharePoint or OneDrive.
What you can do to prepare
All locally stored Modern Excel workbooks are blocked today from querying Copilot Chat. We are enabling M365 subscribers who open these workbooks and query Copilot Chat. See Manage Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat to manage that chat experience.
Compliance considerations
No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.
What changed
Between archive captures, newest firstThe archive supplies one version of this notice.
Learn more
Links from the notice and their documentation checks- Manage Microsoft 365 Copilot ChatNot read yet
- Overview of Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat | Microsoft LearnNot read yet
Related public evidence
No related evidence found in this installation's recent collection. This does not establish that no announcement exists.
Not confirmed here
What this page cannot tell you- Whether your tenant is affected: this is Microsoft's notice, not a check of your settings.
- 2 linked pages have not been read yet.