The Latest Excel Features You Should Know About
The latest Excel features make data cleanup, analysis, and reporting faster than ever. Microsoft Excel keeps evolving with powerful new tools designed to make data analysis easier and more efficient.
Below are the newest Excel features worth knowing, along with tips on how to use them to boost your productivity. Each function example uses the same small data set, and a free practice sheet at the end lets you run every formula live.
New Excel Features at a Glance
| Feature | What it helps you do |
|---|---|
| TEXTSPLIT, TEXTBEFORE, TEXTAFTER | Split and extract text without complex formulas |
| TAKE, DROP, CHOOSECOLS, CHOOSEROWS | Grab just the rows or columns you need |
| VSTACK and HSTACK | Combine ranges without copy and paste |
| GROUPBY and PIVOTBY | Summarize data with a formula instead of a PivotTable |
| REGEX functions | Test, extract, and replace text patterns |
| Checkboxes in cells | Add clickable TRUE/FALSE boxes to any cell |
| Show Details in PivotTables | Drill into the records behind any number |
| Insert Data from Picture | Turn a photo of a table into editable data |
| Analyze Data | Get AI-suggested charts, trends, and patterns |
| Python in Excel | Run Python analysis inside a workbook |
New Excel Text Functions
1. TEXTSPLIT Function
The TEXTSPLIT function splits text into multiple columns or rows based on a delimiter. If A2 holds "Smith, Jane", then =TEXTSPLIT(A2,", ") returns "Smith" and "Jane" in two separate cells.
It is especially useful for cleaning up and organizing imported data, and unlike Text to Columns, it updates automatically when the source changes.
2. TEXTBEFORE and TEXTAFTER Functions
These two functions extract the text before or after a specified delimiter. =TEXTBEFORE(A2,", ") returns the last name "Smith," and =TEXTAFTER(A2,", ") returns the first name "Jane."
They are great for parsing and pulling out specific parts of a string without nesting LEFT, MID, and FIND.
New Excel Functions for Working With Ranges
3. TAKE and DROP Functions
TAKE and DROP are useful for quickly working with subsets of your data. TAKE keeps the first few rows or columns of a range, while DROP removes them. For example, =TAKE(A1:D6,3) returns the header row and the first two records, which is handy for previewing large data sets.
Use a negative number to work from the end: =TAKE(A1:D6,-2) returns the last two rows.
4. CHOOSECOLS and CHOOSEROWS Functions
These functions extract specific columns or rows from a data set. =CHOOSECOLS(A1:D6,1,3) returns only the first and third columns, the names and sales.
They are useful when you want to focus on specific data without manually hiding or deleting columns or rows, and the result stays linked to the source.
5. VSTACK and HSTACK Functions
These functions combine arrays vertically with VSTACK or horizontally with HSTACK. If you have data in two separate ranges you want to consolidate, =VSTACK(A2:A3,A5:A6) stacks them into a single list.
They are a clean way to combine data sets, such as monthly tabs, without copying and pasting.
New Excel Functions for Summarizing Data
6. GROUPBY and PIVOTBY Functions
The GROUPBY function summarizes data by group with a single formula, like a PivotTable that updates itself. =GROUPBY(B2:B6,C2:C6,SUM) totals sales by region and adds a grand total.
PIVOTBY does the same with both row and column groups, such as regions down the side and months across the top. Both are good for reports that need to refresh automatically when the data changes.
7. REGEX Functions for Text Patterns
Excel added regular expression functions for advanced text processing. REGEXTEST, REGEXEXTRACT, and REGEXREPLACE let you test for, extract, or replace text patterns within cells.
For example, =REGEXEXTRACT(D2,"[^@]+$") pulls the domain out of an email address, and =REGEXEXTRACT(A2,"\d{3}-\d{3}-\d{4}") would pull a phone number in 555-123-4567 format out of a longer string.
New Excel Features for Easier Analysis
8. Checkboxes in Cells
Checkboxes can now be inserted directly into cells from the Insert tab. A checked box is TRUE and an unchecked box is FALSE, so formulas can count completed tasks or highlight finished rows. See our guide to the new Excel check box feature for step-by-step instructions.
9. Show Details in PivotTables
Show Details lets you drill into any value in a PivotTable. Double-click a number, or right-click it and choose Show Details, and Excel opens a new sheet with the records behind it. It helps you analyze data more deeply without manually searching through the source.
10. Insert Data from Picture
This feature lets you take a photo or screenshot of a printed table and convert it into editable Excel data. Review the result before relying on it, since image recognition can misread handwriting or blurry numbers, but it saves a lot of retyping.
11. Analyze Data
Analyze Data uses AI to suggest charts, trends, patterns, and outliers based on your data. You can also ask questions in plain language. These insights help identify what matters without requiring advanced data analysis skills.
12. Python in Excel
Python in Excel lets you type Python code into a cell with the PY function and run it on your workbook data, using popular analysis and charting libraries. It is aimed at advanced analysis, and availability depends on your Microsoft 365 plan.
Free Practice Sheet for the Newest Excel Functions
Reading about new functions only goes so far. The practice sheet below uses a five-person sales list and runs 13 of the new functions on it. Pick a function to see what it does, the example formula, and the result.
Copy the practice sheet to Excel and paste it in cell A1 of a blank sheet. The data lands in A1 to D6, and each live formula sits in its own row with enough empty space below to spill its results. Change a name or a sales figure and watch every result update. Print it as a quick reference.
New Excel Functions Practice Sheet
Pick a function to see what it does, its example formula, and the result it returns on the sample data below. Copy the practice sheet to Excel, paste it in cell A1 of a blank sheet, and every formula runs live with room to spill. You need Excel for Microsoft 365 or Excel for the web for these functions. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.
Sample data (cells A1 to D6)
Every function on the sample data
How to Access the Latest Excel Features
Most of these features are available in Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows and Mac and in Excel for the web, though some depend on your update channel or subscription plan. If a function returns #NAME?, your version does not have it yet. Updating Office or joining the Microsoft 365 Insider program can provide earlier access.
By adding these new features to your workflow, you can significantly improve your efficiency and data analysis in Excel. For more detailed guides as features roll out, check Microsoft’s Excel blog.
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Sources
TEXTSPLIT function (Microsoft Support)
VSTACK function (Microsoft Support)
GROUPBY function (Microsoft Support)
REGEXEXTRACT function (Microsoft Support)
Using check boxes in Excel (Microsoft Support)
Expand, collapse, or show details in a PivotTable or PivotChart (Microsoft Support)
Analyze Data in Excel (Microsoft Support)
Introduction to Python in Excel (Microsoft Support)
Excel Blog (Microsoft Tech Community)
Opens in Google Drive. View and download for free.
Related Reading
How to Use the New Excel Check Box Feature →
Frequently Asked Questions About the Latest Excel Features
What are the newest functions in Excel?
Recent additions include TEXTSPLIT, TEXTBEFORE, TEXTAFTER, TAKE, DROP, CHOOSECOLS, CHOOSEROWS, VSTACK, HSTACK, GROUPBY, PIVOTBY, and the REGEX functions REGEXTEST, REGEXEXTRACT, and REGEXREPLACE.
Why does a new Excel function show #NAME?
Your version of Excel does not have that function yet. Most new functions require Excel for Microsoft 365 or Excel for the web with current updates.
What is the difference between TEXTSPLIT and Text to Columns?
Text to Columns is a one-time action that overwrites cells. TEXTSPLIT is a formula, so the split results update automatically when the source text changes.
Can GROUPBY replace a PivotTable?
For many simple summaries, yes. GROUPBY recalculates automatically like any formula, while a PivotTable needs to be refreshed and offers more interactive options.
How do I add a checkbox to a cell in Excel?
Select the cells, go to the Insert tab, and choose Checkbox. A checked box returns TRUE and an unchecked box returns FALSE.
What does Python in Excel do?
It lets you write Python code in a cell using the PY function to analyze and chart workbook data with popular Python libraries, depending on your Microsoft 365 plan.
How can I practice the new Excel functions?
Copy the free practice sheet on this page into a blank workbook. It includes sample data and a live example of each new function.