COPILOT Function Removed from Excel? Here’s What Happened

If you have been using the `=COPILOT()` function in Excel, you may have noticed that it is no longer working.

Instead of generating an AI response, Excel may now display a #NAME? error.

You might also find that the COPILOT function no longer appears when you try to enter it in a cell.

So, what happened?

Microsoft has removed the COPILOT() worksheet function from Excel.

But there is an important point:

Copilot itself has not been removed from Excel.

You can still use Copilot through the Copilot pane if your Microsoft 365 account has access.

Let’s see what happened to the COPILOT function, what happens to existing formulas, and how you can continue using Copilot in Excel.

What Happened to the COPILOT Function in Excel?

Microsoft officially removed the COPILOT() worksheet function from Excel on September 14, 2026.

The function was introduced as a preview feature for users in the Microsoft 365 Insider and Frontier programs.

It allowed users to enter an AI prompt directly into an Excel cell and generate a response using information from the worksheet.

However, the function is no longer available.

Microsoft recommends using the Copilot pane in Excel for many of the same AI tasks.

So, the important difference is:

The COPILOT() worksheet function was removed, but Copilot in Excel is still available for eligible Microsoft 365 users.

COPILOT Function: Before vs. Now

Here’s the simplest way to understand the change.

Before September 14, 2026	Now
#NAME?	The function is no longer available
AI responses could be generated directly in cells	New COPILOT() formulas cannot be created
Existing calculated results could remain visible	Previously calculated results may remain as cached values
Recalculating an old COPILOT() formula	Can return #NAME?
Copilot in Excel	Still available through the Copilot pane

So if you open an older workbook and still see a COPILOT-generated result, that does not mean the function is still working.

The result may simply be a previously calculated value that has not been replaced by a new calculation.

What Was the COPILOT Function in Excel?

The `COPILOT()` function was an AI-powered Excel function.

It allowed users to use natural-language instructions directly inside worksheet cells.

Unlike regular Excel functions such as `SUM`, `IF`, or `XLOOKUP`, the COPILOT function could understand instructions written in plain English.

COPILOT Function Syntax:

The function previously used this syntax:

=COPILOT(prompt, context)

Here:

prompt: The instruction you want Copilot to perform.

context: Optional worksheet data or cell references that Copilot can use to generate the result.

Example: Summarize Customer Feedback

Suppose you have customer feedback in cells A2:A5.

Previously, you could enter:

=COPILOT(“Summarize this feedback”, A2:A5)

Copilot could generate a summary such as:

> Customers are satisfied with delivery, product quality, and support, but packaging needs improvement.

This made it possible to analyze text without creating complicated formulas.

However, this formula no longer works because Microsoft has removed the function.

Why Did Microsoft Remove the COPILOT Function?

Microsoft has confirmed that the COPILOT function was a preview feature and is no longer available.

However, Microsoft has not provided a detailed public explanation for why the worksheet function was removed.

Instead, Microsoft recommends using the Copilot pane in Excel.

You can still use Copilot for tasks such as:

• Summarizing text
• Classifying data
• Generating content
• Finding information online

So, the removal of the function does not mean that Microsoft has stopped supporting Copilot in Excel.

It means that the `=COPILOT()` worksheet function is no longer a supported way to use those AI features.

What Happens to Existing Excel Workbooks?

This is probably the most important question if you have already used the COPILOT function.

Will My Existing COPILOT Results Disappear?

Not necessarily.

Microsoft says that results that were already calculated can remain in the workbook as cached values.

However, when Excel recalculates a cell containing the old `COPILOT()` function, Excel can no longer recognize the function.

The formula can then return:

#NAME?

This is why an old workbook may appear to work at first and then suddenly show errors later.

First, What Does “Recalculate” Mean in Excel?

When Excel recalculates a formula, it runs the formula again and updates the result in the cell.

For example, suppose you have:

=SUM(B2:D2)

If the cells used by the formula change, Excel may recalculate the formula and update the result.

The same basic idea applies to an old `COPILOT()` formula.

If Excel needs to calculate the formula again, it tries to run:

=COPILOT(…)

But the function is no longer available.

So Excel can return:

#NAME?

What About F9?

You can manually force Excel to recalculate formulas.

For example:

• F9 recalculates formulas that Excel has marked for recalculation.
• Ctrl + Alt + F9 recalculates all formulas in all open workbooks.
• Ctrl + Shift + Alt + F9 rebuilds the dependency information and recalculates formulas.

Because the COPILOT function has been removed, forcing a recalculation can cause an old COPILOT formula to return `#NAME?`.

So, if you still have important COPILOT results visible, consider preserving them before deliberately forcing a full recalculation.

What Happens When an Old COPILOT Formula Recalculates?

Let’s look at a simple example.

Suppose an old workbook contains:

=COPILOT(“Give me the capital of “&A2)

and A2 contains:

Telangana

The previous result might be:

Hyderabad

If the workbook has not recalculated the formula, that result may still be visible.

Now suppose A2 changes from:

Telangana

to:

Andhra Pradesh

The COPILOT formula now needs to recalculate.

But the `COPILOT()` function has been removed.

So Excel can no longer calculate the formula and may return:

#NAME?

The Important Point:

Don’t think of it as:

> “Microsoft deleted all the results.”

That’s not what happens.

Think of it this way:

Old COPILOT formula + previously calculated result = the old result may still be visible.

COPILOT formula gets recalculated = Excel can no longer calculate it → `#NAME?`.

That’s why users who have old COPILOT formulas should consider converting important results to normal values while those results are still visible.

How to Find COPILOT Formulas in an Excel Workbook

If you have several worksheets or a large workbook, you may not know where the old `COPILOT()` formulas are located.

You can use Excel’s Find feature to search for them.

Step 1: Open Find

Press:

Ctrl + F

Step 2: Open Find Options

Click Options.

Step 3: Search Formulas

Set Look in to:

Formulas

This is important because you want Excel to search the formulas, not just the displayed results.

Step 4: Search the Entire Workbook

Set Within to:

Workbook

instead of just the current sheet.

 Step 5: Search for COPILOT

Enter:

COPILOT

Excel can then show you cells containing the old function.

This is especially useful if you have a workbook with many worksheets.

How to Preserve Existing COPILOT Results?

If your workbook still shows results generated by the COPILOT function, you can convert those results into normal values.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the workbook containing the COPILOT formulas.
2. Find the cells containing the generated results.
3. Select the cells you want to preserve.
4. Press Ctrl + C to copy them.
5. Right-click the selected cells.
6. Choose Paste Special → Values.

This replaces the COPILOT formulas with the results currently displayed in the cells.

Important Tip:

Do this before the COPILOT formulas recalculate.

If a cell already displays #NAME?, Paste Special cannot recover the previous AI-generated result.

If the old result has already disappeared, you may need to restore an earlier saved copy or version of the workbook.

How to Use Copilot in Excel After the Function Was Removed?

Although the `=COPILOT()` function is no longer available, you can still use Copilot in Excel through the Copilot pane.

Step 1: Open Excel

Open Microsoft Excel and open the workbook you want to work with.

Make sure you are signed in with a Microsoft 365 account that has access to Copilot.

Related article: How to Use Copilot in Excel: Step-by-Step for Beginners

Step 2: Open Copilot

Click the Copilot icon in Excel to open the Copilot pane.

You can find the Copilot icon in the lower-right corner of Excel, although its exact location can vary depending on your Excel version.

Related article: How to Enable Copilot in Excel (Step-by-Step Guide)

Step 3: Enter Your Prompt

Instead of entering a COPILOT formula into a cell, type your instruction directly into the Copilot pane.

For example:

Summarize the customer feedback in cells A2:A5 and highlight the main positive and negative comments.

Copilot can analyze the selected information and generate a response.

You can review the result and use it in your worksheet as needed.

What Should You Use Instead of the COPILOT Function?

Microsoft’s current recommendation is to use Copilot in Excel through the Copilot pane.

For example, instead of:

=COPILOT(“Summarize this feedback”, A2:A20)

you can ask Copilot:

Summarize the feedback in A2:A20.

Instead of:

=COPILOT(“Classify sentiment”, B2:B100)

you can ask Copilot:

Classify each of the sentiment entries in B2:B100 and add the result in a new column.

The important difference is that the old approach used a worksheet formula, while the current approach uses the Copilot interface.

COPILOT Function vs Copilot Pane in Excel:

Both features use AI, but they work differently.

Feature	COPILOT Function	Copilot Pane
How it works	Formula inside a cell	Instructions in a chat interface
Example	=COPILOT(…)	Summarize this data
Summarize text	Yes	Yes
Classify data	Yes	Yes
Generate content	Yes	Yes
Available now	No	Yes, with eligible access
Recalculates as a worksheet formula	Previously	No

The main difference is simple:

The old COPILOT function worked through an Excel formula.

The Copilot pane works through natural-language instructions.

Can You Fix the COPILOT Function #NAME? Error?

If your formula returns #NAME? because it uses the removed COPILOT function, updating Excel or rewriting the same formula will not bring the function back.

For example:

=COPILOT(“Classify sentiment”, A2:A10)

This formula is no longer supported.

Instead, open the Copilot pane and give Copilot an instruction such as:

Classify the customer feedback in A2:A10 as Positive, Negative, or Neutral. Add the results in a new column.

You can then review the results before accepting changes to your worksheet.

Quick Tip:

If another Excel formula is showing #NAME?, the problem may be different.

For example, the function name may be misspelled or the function may not be supported in your version of Excel.

So, don’t assume every #NAME? error is caused by the removed COPILOT function.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Is the COPILOT function permanently removed from Excel?

Microsoft removed the COPILOT function on September 14, 2026.

As of September 29, 2026, Microsoft has not announced a return date for the function.

2. Why is the COPILOT function showing #NAME? in Excel?

Excel shows #NAME? because the COPILOT function is no longer recognized.

This can happen when an existing COPILOT formula recalculates.

3. Can I still use Copilot in Excel?

Yes.

Copilot is still available in Excel for eligible Microsoft 365 users. You can access it through the Copilot pane instead of entering the `=COPILOT()` function.

4. Will updating Excel restore the COPILOT function?

No.

Microsoft officially removed the function, so installing the latest Excel update will not restore it.

5. Will my existing COPILOT results disappear?

Not necessarily.

Previously calculated results may remain as cached values.

However, when the formula recalculates, Excel can return #NAME?.

If you have important results, save them as regular values while they are still visible.

6. Is the COPILOT function available in Excel for the web?

No.

Microsoft has removed the worksheet function from Excel, including the web version. Eligible users can still access Copilot through the supported Copilot interface.

Final Thoughts:

Microsoft removed the COPILOT() worksheet function from Excel on September 14, 2026.

If you previously used `=COPILOT()` formulas, they may now return a #NAME? error when the workbook recalculates.

However, Copilot itself is still available in Excel.

You can continue using AI to summarize information, classify data, generate content, and perform other tasks through the Copilot pane.

If you still have important results from old COPILOT formulas, consider converting them to regular values before the formulas recalculate.

So, if `=COPILOT()` suddenly stops working in your workbook, your Excel installation is not necessarily the problem. The worksheet function itself has been removed.