About MCP Server for Excel
MCP Server for Excel automates the actual Excel application through Microsoft Excel's COM API, for users who need agents to operate workbooks. It preserves workbook structures and formatting, and offers both an MCP server and a token-efficient CLI; it requires Windows, Excel 2016 or later, and an interactive desktop.
Key features
- 01Operate cells, worksheets, and workbooks
- 02Refresh Power Query and calculate formulas
- 03Run DAX, VBA, and Python =PY()
- 04Manage PivotTables, charts, and the Data Model
- 05Offer MCP server and CLI entry points
Use cases
- 01Import CSV data into the Data Model with Power Query
- 02Summarize revenue by region and create a chart
- 03Use Goal Seek to find a target profit
- 04Automate existing Excel workbooks with agents
MCP support
The MCP server provides compatible clients with tool discovery and persistent sessions, calling the ExcelMcp service in-process. The project also offers a CLI that shares the same Excel commands.
Configuration
Local server config is the same for every client. Copy it into your client’s MCP config file.
We haven’t collected a package or remote endpoint for this server. Follow the instructions in the project README.
Tools
Local servers expose tools only once running on your machine, and the maintainer has not provided a tool list.
Details
From the project READMEExcelMcp - MCP Server for Microsoft Excel
Website · Installation · Features · Troubleshooting · 2-minute demo
Automate real Microsoft Excel with AI. Excel MCP Server lets GitHub Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, and other agents control Excel through natural-language requests—using either MCP or a token-efficient CLI.
Unlike file-parser tools, ExcelMcp drives the actual Excel application through
its official COM API. It can refresh Power Query, recalculate formulas, evaluate
DAX, run VBA and Python =PY(), and preserve PivotTables, charts, macros, the
Data Model, and workbook formatting.
63 MCP tools across 33 feature areas, with 429 operations, cover end-to-end Excel automation.
Important
Requires Windows, Microsoft Excel 2016 or later, and an interactive desktop. It is not intended for Linux, macOS, or server-side batch processing.
🚀 Get Started
| Use case | Recommended path |
|---|---|
| VS Code | Install the extension |
| Claude Desktop or another MCP client | Install the MCP Server |
| Coding agents (fewer AI tokens) | Install the CLI |
| Not sure which to choose? | Read the installation overview |
For GitHub Copilot CLI, install either plugin from the Awesome Copilot Excel listings:
copilot plugin install excel-mcp@awesome-copilot
# Or, for command-line Excel automation:
copilot plugin install excel-cli@awesome-copilot
Close open Excel workbooks before starting; ExcelMcp requires exclusive access while automating them.
What You Can Automate
- Data & analytics: Power Query, DAX, Power Pivot, Excel Tables, PivotTables, and data connections.
- Cells & workbooks: ranges, formulas, formatting, worksheets, files, calculation, and named ranges.
- Charts & visuals: charts, slicers, conditional formatting, screenshots, drawings, and sparklines.
- Automation & advanced: VBA, Python in Excel, Goal Seek, scenarios, data tables, windows, and XML Maps.
Explore the capabilities behind all 429 operations. Current command details come from CLI help or the MCP tool descriptions.
See It in Action
Ask in plain language:
- "Import products.csv with Power Query and load it to the Data Model."
- "Create a PivotTable showing revenue by region, then add a column chart."
- "Use Goal Seek to find the price that produces $100,000 profit."
- "Show me Excel while you work."
Because Excel performs the work, you can inspect results live and continue editing the workbook normally.
See more examples and use cases.
MCP Server or CLI?
Both entry points expose the same Excel commands and behavior, so the choice is technical. Coding agents can use either one.
| Interface | Works with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| MCP Server | Any MCP-compatible client | Tool discovery and persistent sessions |
CLI (excelcli) | Agents that can run terminal commands | Built-in help without loading MCP tool definitions, usually with fewer AI tokens |
The MCP Server calls the ExcelMcp service in-process. The CLI uses a background daemon so workbook sessions persist across commands.
AI assistant or script
│
MCP Server / CLI
│
Shared Excel commands
│
Real Excel COM API
Read the architecture or browse the MCP Server and CLI guides.
⭐ GitHub Star History
📋 Additional Information
Documentation · Changelog · Contributing · Security · Privacy
License: MIT License - see LICENSE file
Related Projects
Other projects by the author:
- PowerPoint MCP Server — AI-powered PowerPoint automation via MCP, the sister project to this one
- pytest-skill-engineering — LLM-powered testing framework for AI agents
- Windows MCP Server — AI-powered Windows automation via MCP
- OBS Studio MCP Server — AI-powered OBS Studio automation
Comments
New to MCP?
From what the protocol is to installing your first server, these answers cover most first questions.
An open protocol that defines how AI applications connect to external tools and data in a uniform way. Clients talk to the model; MCP servers provide tools, resources and prompt templates. They exchange standard messages, so one server can be reused by many clients.