Copilot in excel keeps failing

Roosevelt 0 Reputation points
2026-11-13T00:57:19.4166667+00:00

I know Outlook is currently having issues, but why is Copilot in Excel broken too? It just keeps loading and then throws an error every single time. What kind of terrible system is this?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For business | Other
0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Elena-VH 2,615 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-13T01:06:56.83+00:00

    Dear Roosevelt,

    I understand your frustration that Outlook, Teams, and Copilot in Excel are all failing.

    In this case, I would like to share an update regarding the connectivity issue affecting multiple Microsoft 365 services.

    According to Microsoft's notification (Incident ID: MO1550821), users may be unable to connect to or access multiple Microsoft 365 services, including Exchange Online, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online, Microsoft Copilot, and Microsoft Defender XDR.

    Microsoft has identified that the affected infrastructure is experiencing elevated load across multiple regions, which is likely contributing to the connectivity errors. Microsoft is currently restarting and repairing impacted portions of the infrastructure to restore capacity. Additionally, they are investigating an unexpected increase in a specific type of service traffic and evaluating options to redirect traffic to alternative infrastructure to expedite recovery.

    The incident is currently classified as Service Degradation, and Microsoft is actively investigating and working to mitigate the issue.

    Regarding the restoration timeline and email delivery, Microsoft will provide official updates through the Service Health dashboard. I would recommend contacting Microsoft 365 business support if the issues persist or require further investigation.

    If you have Microsoft 365 administrator privileges, please sign in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center to view the details of this issue.

    If you don't know who the admin is in your organization, you can find guidance here: How can I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support    

    Alternatively, follow these steps:

    • Sign in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
    • Go to Health > Service Health.
    • Search for Issue ID: MO1550821.
    • Select the issue and expand the details to review the latest updates, affected services, impact, and remediation information.

    I'll continue to monitor this case and let you know if there are any updates.

    Kind regards.

    User's image

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

  2. AI answer

    2026-11-13T00:57:36.27+00:00

    For Excel, the context does not show a current broad service incident like the Outlook classic issues. The supported causes for Copilot in Excel repeatedly loading or failing are usually workbook state, file location/format, calculation mode, connected experiences, account mismatch, or file hosting.

    Check these in order:

    1. File location
      • Move or copy the workbook to OneDrive or SharePoint.
      • Copilot in Excel works with cloud-stored workbooks, and third-party storage can cause Copilot access or validation errors.
    2. File format
      • Make sure the workbook is .xlsx, .xlsb, or .xlsm.
      • If it is Strict Open XML Spreadsheet, save it as Excel Workbook (.xlsx).
    3. Unsupported file state
      • If the file is from SharePoint and is checked out, check it back in.
      • Then close and reopen it in Excel.
      • If the site requires check-out for editing, Copilot in Excel on Windows or Mac will not work for files from that site. Use Excel for the web for those files.
    4. Calculation mode
      • Copilot cannot edit a workbook when Calculation Options are set to Manual.
      • In Excel, go to the Formulas tab and confirm calculation is set to Automatic.
    5. Connected experiences
      • Go to File > Account > Account Privacy > Manage Settings.
      • Confirm that experiences that analyze content and all connected experiences are turned on.
      • If these are disabled by policy, Copilot may be unavailable or fail.
    6. Update channel
      • Copilot features arrive in Current Channel and Monthly Enterprise Channel.
      • Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel does not support Copilot.
      • Check this in File > Account.
    7. Signed-in account
      • Make sure Excel is signed in with the account that has the Copilot entitlement.
      • If working with an organization file, use the work or school account that has access.

    If the failure happens only with one workbook, the most likely causes are file state, format, or storage location. If it happens with every workbook, the most likely causes are account, connected experiences, or update channel.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.