Microsoft Excel

How Copilot Chat Finds the Best Excel Function for Any Task

Not sure which Excel function to use? Copilot Chat can figure it out for you. Instead of searching through documentation, describe what you want to do in plain English and Copilot will suggest the right function — complete with the formula and an explanation of how it works.

This works in the free version of Copilot too — you don't need a paid license for this feature.

The Problem: Comparing Two Lists

The example starts with two columns of employee IDs. The goal: check whether each ID in column A also appears in column D, and return "Yes" or "No." If you don't know which function handles this kind of lookup, Copilot can tell you.

Copilot Chat interface showing the prompt: what excel function will compare items in two lists, return Yes or True — Ask Copilot in plain English what you need — it figures out the right function

Copilot's Solution: IF + ISNUMBER + MATCH

Copilot suggests the formula =IF(ISNUMBER(MATCH(A2, B:B, 0)), "Yes", "No") and breaks down how each part works:

MATCH(A2, B:B, 0) — Looks for the value in A2 within column B. Returns its position if found
ISNUMBER(...) — Checks if MATCH returned a number (meaning a match was found)
IF(...) — Returns "Yes" if true, "No" if not

Copilot response showing the IF ISNUMBER MATCH formula with detailed explanation of each function — Copilot provides the formula and explains what each nested function does

Implementing and Verifying

After pasting the formula into Excel, it correctly identifies which employee IDs exist in both lists. The formula can be dragged down to compare entire columns.

Excel spreadsheet showing two Emp ID columns with Yes/No results from the MATCH formula, with formula visible in formula bar — The formula correctly identifies matches (Yes) and non-matches (No) between the two lists

Tips

Copilot Chat works for any Excel function question — describe what you want, not which function to use
It also suggests follow-up actions like turning results into conditional formatting rules
The free version of Copilot Chat handles these function lookups — no M365 Copilot license required
You can also use Copilot to optimize existing formulas you've already written