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Quick Answer

Select any cell inside your data table, navigate to the Home tab, and click the Analyze Data button (lightning bolt icon) on the far right. A sidebar will appear offering AI-generated charts, pivot tables, and insights.

How to Use the Analyze Data Feature in Excel ​

Applies to: Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365)
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-03-09

Summary ​

The Analyze Data feature (formerly called Ideas) in Excel uses artificial intelligence to identify trends, patterns, and insights in your data. It can automatically generate charts, pivot tables, and summary statistics — saving you time on exploratory analysis. This article shows how to use Analyze Data to get instant insights from your spreadsheet.

Prerequisites ​

  • Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 subscription — this feature is not available in Excel 2019 or earlier).
  • Data must be in a structured table or range with headers.
  • An active internet connection (analysis is cloud-powered).
  • No admin rights required.

Instructions ​

1. Open the Analyze Data Panel ​

Launch the AI-powered analysis tool.

  1. Open a workbook with data that has clear column headers.
  2. Click anywhere inside your data range.
  3. Click the Home tab on the ribbon.
  4. Click Analyze Data (in the Analysis group on the right side of the ribbon).
  5. The Analyze Data pane opens on the right side of the screen.

2. Review Auto-Generated Insights ​

Browse the AI-suggested summaries and visualisations.

  1. The Analyze Data pane displays several insights, including:
    • Summary statistics — Totals, averages, and trends.
    • Charts — Bar charts, line graphs, and scatter plots highlighting patterns.
    • PivotTable suggestions — Recommended ways to group and summarise data.
  2. Scroll through the suggestions to find relevant insights.
  3. Click + Insert PivotTable or + Insert Chart on any suggestion to add it to your workbook.

3. Ask a Specific Question ​

Type a natural language question about your data.

  1. At the top of the Analyze Data pane, type a question in the search field.
    • Examples: "What is the total sales by region?", "Which month had the highest revenue?", "Show a trend for Q1."
  2. Press Enter.
  3. Analyze Data returns a targeted answer with a chart, table, or value.
  4. Click + Insert to add the result to your workbook.

4. Insert a Suggested Chart ​

Add a visualisation directly to your worksheet.

  1. Browse the insights in the Analyze Data pane.
  2. Find a chart that shows the pattern or comparison you need.
  3. Click + Insert Chart below the suggestion.
  4. The chart is added to your current worksheet.
  5. Resize and reposition the chart as needed.

Troubleshooting ​

INFO

Analyze Data works best with clean, tabular data. Ensure your data has clear column headers, no merged cells, and no blank rows within the data range.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Analyze Data button is greyed outNot a Microsoft 365 subscriptionAnalyze Data requires an active Microsoft 365 subscription. Verify your licence in File > Account.
No insights generatedData is not structured as a tableSelect your data and press Ctrl+T to format it as a table, then try again.
Question returns no resultsQuestion phrasing not understoodRephrase using column header names exactly as they appear (e.g., "Total of Sales Amount" instead of "How much did we sell?").