How to Use Microsoft 365 Copilot in Excel for Conditional Formatting?

• 14 February 2024
• Copilot,Microsoft Copilot
• Written by Editorial Team

Learn how to harness the capabilities of Microsoft 365 Copilot in Excel for efficient conditional formatting. This feature empowers you to apply formatting rules based on specific conditions, elevating data visualization and analysis.

What Is Conditional Formatting?

Conditional formatting in Microsoft Excel allows you to apply various formatting rules or styles to cells based on specific conditions or criteria. This feature aids in visualizing data, identifying patterns, and spotting anomalies.

To utilize Microsoft 365 Copilot in Excel, follow these simple steps to apply and customize formatting rules, enabling effective data analysis and presentation:

• Open Excel and create a new workbook or open an existing one
• Navigate to the “Home” tab in the ribbon at the top of the screen

  

• Click on the “Copilot” button in the “Tools” section of the ribbon

  

• A sidebar will appear on the right side, offering Copilot suggestions and insights related to your task

  

• Click on “Try an example” to generate the sample data spreadsheet

Sample Data

For instance, apply the following prompt in the Copilot request section for conditional formatting tasks:

Prompt for Applying Condition Formatting

“Apply conditional formatting to highlight cells in column E that exceed 500.”

Press the “Enter” key or click on the “Run” button to execute your request. Copilot will prepare the spreadsheet based on your request and apply the conditional formatting to the cells that match your criteria.

Output Based on the User Prompt

Copilot has prepared the following spreadsheet based on your prompt.

You can modify, delete, or add more conditional formatting rules by clicking on the “Conditional Formatting” button in the “Home” tab.

Conclusion:

Conditional formatting is a powerful and useful feature in Excel for effective data analysis and presentation. With Microsoft 365 Copilot, you can easily apply conditional formatting using natural language requests. Copilot also provides suggestions and insights to enhance your productivity and creativity in Excel.