MC1293484 - Excel Desktop update required to connect to Power Platform Analytical Dataflows

Introduction

Action required: We are updating the Power Platform Dataflows connector in Excel Desktop to improve reliability and support future enhancements. To avoid disruption, organizations who use Power Platform Analytical Dataflows connector must update Excel Desktop to a supported build before this change rolls out, as older versions will no longer be able to connect to Power Platform Analytical Dataflows.

When this will happen:

• The required Excel Desktop version (Build 16.0.17932.20732 or newer) is available as of April 27, 2026 (the publication date of this post).
• Beginning May 27, 2026, the legacy backend endpoint will begin to be retired as part of a gradual rollout (there is no single hard cutover date). After this date, Excel Desktop versions earlier than Build 16.0.17932.20732 may lose connectivity to Power Platform Analytical Dataflows.

How this affects your organization:

Who is affected:

• Organizations using Excel Desktop to connect to Power Platform Analytical Dataflows
• Users running Excel builds earlier than 16.0.17932.20732

What will happen:

• Excel Desktop versions earlier than Build 16.0.17932.20732 will fail to connect to data from Power Platform Analytical Dataflows once the new endpoint is in use.
• Excel Desktop versions at or newer than Build 16.0.17932.20732 are not impacted.
• Retired Office versions will not receive this update and therefore will permanently lose connectivity, requiring upgrade to a supported version.
• No admin configuration changes are required beyond updating Excel.

What you can do to prepare:

• Update Excel Desktop across your organization to the latest available version before May 27, 2026.
• Review update compliance for devices that rely on Power Platform Analytical Dataflows connection scenarios.
• Notify users and helpdesk teams that older Excel builds will no longer be able to connect to these dataflows.
• Update internal documentation that references Excel build requirements for Power Platform Analytical Dataflows.

Note: This change is on by default and cannot be deferred per tenant. Keeping Excel updated is required to avoid disruption.

Learn more: How to update Microsoft 365 or Office for Windows | Microsoft Support

Compliance considerations:

Older Excel Desktop builds will no longer be able to connect to Power Platform Analytical Dataflows after the endpoint change.