How to Check Your Excel Version (All Methods, All Platforms)

Knowing which version of Excel you're running matters more than most people realize. Features behave differently across versions, files can open incorrectly, and support instructions that work in one release may not apply to another. Whether you're troubleshooting a formula, following IT instructions, or confirming compatibility before sharing a workbook, finding your Excel version takes less than a minute — once you know where to look.

Why Your Excel Version Actually Matters

Excel has been around since 1985, and Microsoft releases new versions regularly — both as part of the traditional perpetual license (like Office 2019 or Office 2021) and through Microsoft 365, which updates continuously. This creates a landscape where two people both "using Excel" may be running software years apart in functionality.

Some features — dynamic arrays, XLOOKUP, LET functions, co-authoring, and certain Power Query capabilities — only exist in newer builds. If a colleague sends you a file using XLOOKUP and your version doesn't support it, you'll see an error instead of a result. Knowing your version tells you exactly where you stand.

How to Check Excel Version on Windows 🖥️

Method 1: Through the Account Menu (Most Reliable)

1. Open Excel
2. Click File in the top-left ribbon
3. Select Account from the left sidebar
4. Look under Product Information

Here you'll see the full product name (e.g., Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise) and, crucially, the build number. Click About Excel to see the complete version string, which looks something like Version 2408 (Build 17928.20114).

Method 2: About Excel Dialog

In older versions, go to File → Help → About Microsoft Excel. This gives you the version number and build in a pop-up window, which is useful when the Account menu isn't present.

What the Numbers Mean

Note that Office 2016 through Microsoft 365 all share the internal version number 16 — the product name and build number are what distinguish them from each other.

How to Check Excel Version on Mac 🍎

Method 1: Menu Bar

1. Open Excel
2. Click Excel in the top menu bar (far left, next to the Apple logo)
3. Select About Microsoft Excel

A dialog box will display the version number and build. Microsoft 365 on Mac follows the same monthly versioning pattern as Windows.

Method 2: System Information

Go to Apple menu → About This Mac → System Report → Software → Applications. Scroll to find Microsoft Excel and check the version field. This works even if Excel won't open properly.

How to Check Excel Version on Mobile

iPhone and iPad

1. Open the Excel app
2. Tap your profile icon (top left)
3. Tap About Excel or check under app settings

Alternatively, go to your device's Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Microsoft Excel to see the installed app version.

Android

1. Open the Excel app
2. Tap the three-dot menu or your profile icon
3. Look for About or App Info

You can also check via Settings → Apps → Microsoft Excel → App Info on most Android devices.

Perpetual License vs. Microsoft 365: A Key Distinction

Understanding the version number requires understanding the licensing model, because they behave very differently.

Perpetual license versions (Office 2019, Office 2021) ship with a fixed feature set. The version number stays the same unless a service pack updates it. These installations don't add new Excel features over time.

Microsoft 365 uses a rolling release model. The internal version number updates frequently — sometimes monthly — as new features are added. Two people on Microsoft 365 could technically be on slightly different builds depending on their update channel:

• Current Channel — receives updates monthly
• Monthly Enterprise Channel — updates monthly but on a slightly delayed schedule
• Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel — updates twice per year, common in corporate environments

This means "Microsoft 365" isn't a single frozen version. The specific build number tells you exactly which feature set you have access to.

Checking Version via Excel's Built-In Formula

If you need to confirm version information programmatically — useful for IT documentation or shared workbooks — you can use this formula directly in a cell:

=INFO("version") 

This returns the internal version number of the running Excel instance. It's a quick check that doesn't require navigating any menus.

The Variables That Make This Different for Every User

Once you know how to find your version, what you do with that information depends on factors unique to your situation:

• Your update channel — corporate deployments often restrict updates, meaning you may have Microsoft 365 but an older build
• IT policy — managed devices may require admin approval before Excel updates, leaving the installed build behind the current release
• OS version — some Excel features require a minimum Windows or macOS version to function
• Subscription status — a lapsed Microsoft 365 subscription shifts Excel into reduced functionality mode, regardless of what's installed
• 32-bit vs. 64-bit installation — visible in the About Excel dialog; affects compatibility with certain add-ins and large file handling

The version number is the starting point. What it means for your specific workflows, file compatibility requirements, and feature availability depends on how all of these pieces line up in your particular setup.