MC1042933 - Microsoft Excel: Expanded eligibility for Python in Excel

In August 2024, the Python in Excel feature in Microsoft Excel became generally available to commercial users with paid Microsoft 365 licenses that provide access to the Microsoft 365 desktop apps, such as Office 365 E3 and E5 licenses. After this rollout, we will expand the eligibility for Python in Excel to include users with Microsoft 365 commercial licenses with access only to Microsoft 365 apps for the web, such as Office 365 E1, Microsoft 365 Business Basic, and Office 365 F3.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 487129.

When this will happen:

General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out mid-April 2025 and expect to complete by late April 2025.

How this will affect your organization:

After this rollout:

Users with access to supported Excel clients will be able to add Python formulas to their workbooks without any installation required. These Python formulas will be run by Excel in a secure container on the Microsoft Cloud with enterprise-level security as a compliant Microsoft 365 connected experience.

An example of a Python formula in an Excel workbook:

As part of this rollout, we will also release the Python in Excel add-on license that gives users premium Python compute for faster calculation times for more powerful data analysis. Note: Some premium Python compute will be included with each user’s Microsoft 365 subscription each month, giving them access to faster calculation speeds. After they have used all their included premium compute, they can continue to use the Python in Excel feature with standard Python compute.

If you would like users in your organization to get access to premium compute, you can purchase and assign them a Python in Excel add-on license in the Microsoft 365 admin center. We will also release the Python in Excel add-on license as a self-service purchased product, which means that eligible users will be able to request a license or purchase a license through prompts in Excel. Learn more about self-service purchases.

If you have disabled self-service purchases in your tenant, the end user will be able to submit a license request to you. These grouped notifications will appear in the Microsoft 365 admin center. You can manage these requests in the Requests tab on the Licenses page. Learn more: Manage self-service license requests in the Microsoft 365 admin center | Microsoft Learn.

The Python in Excel feature is on by default.

What you need to do to prepare:

• To learn more about Python in Excel, please review the Python in Excel documentation.
• For more information on additional admin controls for the Python in Excel feature, visit Data Security and Python in Excel.
• As an admin, you still maintain visibility and control over the Python in Excel add-on licenses in your tenant. You can view licenses purchased by users in the Microsoft 365 admin center at Billing > Your Products. You will be able to take control of licenses purchased by users and manage them as you would any other license in your tenant.
• Learn more about how admins can manage self-service purchase for the Python in Excel add-on, including how to opt out: Manage self-service license requests in the Microsoft 365 admin center | Microsoft Learn.

This rollout will happen automatically by the specified date with no admin action required before the rollout. You may want to notify your users about this change and update any relevant documentation.