MC1162083 – (Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Agent Mode available in Excel Labs add-in (Frontier preview) (archived)

Product:

Copilot, Microsoft 365 admin center, Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft 365 for the web

Platform:

Online, Web, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact

Links:

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft 365 Copilot's Agent Mode in Excel Labs (Frontier preview) enables natural language workbook editing, available from October 21, 2025, for Frontier program customers. Admins must enable Frontier access; users can toggle features in Copilot. More features and languages are coming, with no identified compliance issues.

Details:
Updated October 21, 2025: Now that this is available, we have updated the content below to provide additional details as you leverage the feature. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction:]
Agent Mode in Microsoft 365 Copilot for Excel, available now on the web and coming soon to desktop apps, is a new way for users to work with Copilot in Excel. It uses natural language to build and edit workbooks and allows users to keep their content editable and stay up to date with the latest changes. Users stay in control over all modifications at any time. To learn more, read https://aka.ms/Agent_Mode.
[How to access Agent Mode in Copilot in Excel:]
Available to Microsoft Frontier program customers starting October 21, 2025.
For Enterprise Microsoft 365 Copilot license customers, admins need to enable Frontier access for their organization in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
For Microsoft 365 Personal, Family or Premium licenses, customers can turn on Frontier Features with a new toggle under the Copilot ribbon button.
Once Frontier features are turned on, customers will see a new Agent Mode option under the Tools menu in Copilot chat.
This version will soon include more features and support for additional languages.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2025-09-29

updated:
2025-10-22

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Experience Disruption
If the new Agent Mode is enabled without proper training, users may struggle to adapt to the natural language editing features, leading to confusion and decreased productivity.
   - roles: End Users, Training Coordinators
   - references: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2021/05/10/the-future-of-work-how-ai-is-changing-the-way-we-work/, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2021/03/16/introducing-microsoft-365-copilot/

Increased Support Requests
Without preparation, users may encounter issues with the new features, resulting in a surge of support requests that IT teams may not be ready to handle.
   - roles: IT Support Staff, Help Desk Agents
   - references: https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/insights/it-support, https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-improve-it-support-in-your-organization/

Compliance and Security Risks
Enabling new features without thorough testing may expose the organization to unforeseen compliance and security risks, even if no issues are identified initially.
   - roles: Compliance Officers, IT Security Managers
   - references: https://www.csoonline.com/article/3531230/the-importance-of-compliance-in-it-security.html, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/compliance

Configutation Options**

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Opportunities**

Enhanced Data Analysis
With the introduction of Agent Mode in Excel, users can leverage natural language processing to create and modify complex data analyses more intuitively. This could lead to improved data-driven decision-making and productivity as users spend less time on manual data manipulation.
   - next-steps: Conduct training sessions for data analysts and business intelligence teams to familiarize them with the new features of Agent Mode. Gather feedback to assess the impact on their workflows.
   - roles: Data Analysts, Business Intelligence Managers, Project Managers
   - references: https://aka.ms/Agent_Mode, https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/admin/manage/manage-addins-in-the-admin-center?view=o365-worldwide

Improved User Adoption
The natural language capabilities of Agent Mode can significantly lower the barrier for users who may not be proficient in Excel. This can lead to increased adoption of Excel across various departments, as more employees feel empowered to utilize the tool effectively.
   - next-steps: Develop a user adoption strategy that includes tutorials and documentation on using Agent Mode. Identify champions within departments to promote the feature.
   - roles: Department Heads, Training Coordinators, HR Managers
   - references: https://aka.ms/Agent_Mode, https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/admin/manage/manage-addins-in-the-admin-center?view=o365-worldwide

Streamlined IT Support
By enabling users to control their content modifications and providing intuitive features, the need for IT support related to Excel usage may decrease. This can allow IT staff to focus on more critical tasks rather than routine support requests.
   - next-steps: Monitor support ticket trends related to Excel usage post-implementation of Agent Mode. Adjust IT support resources accordingly to optimize staff allocation.
   - roles: IT Support Staff, IT Managers, Operations Managers
   - references: https://aka.ms/Agent_Mode, https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/admin/manage/manage-addins-in-the-admin-center?view=o365-worldwide

Potentional Risks**

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Data Protection**

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IT Security**

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Hypothetical Work Council Statement**

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DPIA Draft**

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explanation for non-techies**

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