How to Use Python in Excel: A Beginner’s Guide (with Examples)

Introduction

Ever wished Excel could do a little more—like automate complex tasks, analyze massive datasets, or generate stunning visualizations? Good news: Python is now built into Excel, and it’s a total game-changer.

When I first heard about this update, I was skeptical. I’ve been using Excel for years and thought I’d seen it all. But integrating Python in Excel? That’s next-level. Once I tried it out, I realized how powerful it is—especially for analysts, financial modelers, or even beginners who want to explore automation and data science.

So if you’re curious about how to get started with Python in Excel, this guide is for you.

Why Use Python in Excel?

Before we dive in, let’s talk about the “why.”

🧠 Advanced analytics: Use libraries like Pandas, Matplotlib, and Scikit-learn.
⚡ Automate repetitive tasks: Forget manual data wrangling.

📊 Create powerful visualizations: Go beyond Excel charts.
🤖 Integrate AI or ML models: Directly from your workbook.
🔁 Work with large datasets: More efficient than Excel formulas alone.

Check out my tutorial on How to Clean Data in Excel Like a Pro for context before applying Python.

What is Excel Python Integration?

Excel Python integration is Microsoft’s way of embedding Python directly into Excel through Microsoft 365. Using Python in Excel, you can now enter Python code inside a cell just like a regular formula.

This feature is currently available in Excel for Microsoft 365 (Insider Beta Channel) and is gradually rolling out to everyone.

How to Enable Python in Excel

Here’s a step-by-step to get started:

Step 1: Join the Microsoft 365 Insider Program

Go to: https://insider.microsoft365.com/
Sign in with your Microsoft account.

Choose the Beta Channel under Office Updates.

Step 2: Install the Latest Excel

Make sure you have Excel version 2406 or above.
Update Office via File → Account → Update Options.

Step 3: Open Excel and Start Using Python

Once enabled, you’ll see PY() formulas in Excel. Python code is written using:

excelCopyEdit=PY("print('Hello from Python!')")

Or for more advanced tasks:

excelCopyEdit=PY("import pandas as pd; df = pd.DataFrame({'Sales':[100,200,150]}); df.describe()")

📝 Note: Python runs securely in the cloud using the Azure trusted runtime provided by Microsoft.

Real-Life Examples of Python in Excel

Example 1: Data Summary with Pandas

Suppose you have sales data in range A1:A10.

excelCopyEdit=PY("import pandas as pd; df = pd.DataFrame(xl('A1:A10')); df.describe()")

This instantly gives you a summary (mean, min, max, etc.).

Example 2: Line Chart with Matplotlib

excelCopyEdit=PY("
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.plot([10, 20, 30, 40])
plt.title('Sales Growth')
plt.xlabel('Quarter')
plt.ylabel('Revenue')
plt.grid(True)
plt.show()
")

This renders a professional chart—right inside Excel. Way better than default charting options when you want full control.

Example 3: Linear Regression in Excel

excelCopyEdit=PY("
from sklearn.linear_model import LinearRegression
import numpy as np

x = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4]).reshape(-1, 1)
y = np.array([10, 20, 25, 40])
model = LinearRegression()
model.fit(x, y)
model.coef_, model.intercept_
")

Perfect for forecasting or predictive modeling.

Excel Formulas vs Python: When to Use What?

Task	Excel Formula	Python in Excel
Basic Math	✅ Fast & Easy	🚫 Overkill
Text Manipulation	✅ Excel Formulas	✅ Python for Bulk Ops
Data Cleaning	✅ Power Query	✅ Pandas More Powerful
Charts	✅ Default	✅ Advanced
AI/ML	🚫 Not Supported	✅ Fully Supported

Sometimes a mix of both works best.

Is Using Python in Excel Secure?

Absolutely. Microsoft uses a sandboxed Azure container to execute your Python code. You won’t be able to access local files or send data to the internet unless you use permitted libraries like pandas, matplotlib, scikit-learn, etc.

More info here: Microsoft’s Python in Excel Docs

5 High Search Intent, Low Competition Keywords

Here are 5 valuable long-tail keywords related to this topic:

Excel with Python script examples

Python Excel automation tutorial
Python Excel integration without VBA
Run pandas in Excel

Excel AI automation Python

Include these naturally in your blog or YouTube descriptions to rank better.

📂 Helpful Internal Resources from Excel Pro Tutorial

Top Excel Automation Tools for 2025

📌 Tips Before You Start Using Python in Excel

Start with small tasks and gradually explore more.

If you’re new to Python, check out W3Schools Python Basics.
Don’t replace everything with Python—just where it saves time or adds value.

Conclusion: Should You Learn Python in Excel?

Absolutely!

If you’re serious about upgrading your Excel skills, especially in data analysis, reporting, or automation—Python in Excel is the future. I’ve used it for things like auto-generating pivot reports and cleaning thousands of rows of messy data, and it’s saved me hours.

My advice? Start today. Even learning basic Python and combining it with Excel will put you way ahead of the game.

FAQs – Python in Excel

1. Do I need to install Python separately?

No. Python is integrated into Excel via Microsoft 365 and runs through Azure, so no manual setup needed.

2. Can I use Python in Excel offline?

Not yet. The current version runs in the cloud. Offline support isn’t available.

3. Is this feature free?

It’s available for Microsoft 365 subscribers, currently in public preview.

4. Can Python replace VBA in Excel?

Not entirely. While Python is great for data tasks, VBA is still better for UI and legacy macros.

5. What libraries are supported?

You can use pandas, numpy, matplotlib, seaborn, scikit-learn, and more. Full list on Microsoft Docs.

Let me know in the comments or contact me if you’d like a tutorial on automating dashboards using Python in Excel. 🚀

Happy Excelling!
– Jitendra, Excel Pro Tutorial