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

Knowing which version of Excel you're running isn't just trivia — it determines which features you can access, whether your files will open correctly on someone else's machine, and whether you're eligible for certain updates or add-ins. The steps to find it vary more than most people expect.

Why Your Excel Version Actually Matters

Excel has been around since 1985, and Microsoft releases new versions on a regular cadence. Features like dynamic arrays, XLOOKUP, Power Query, and co-authoring are version-dependent. If you're troubleshooting a formula that isn't working, or a colleague sends you a file with functions you've never seen, the first diagnostic step is almost always: what version are you on?

Version numbers also determine your file format compatibility, security patch status, and whether your IT department considers your installation supported.

How to Find Your Excel Version on Windows 🖥️

Method 1: Through the Account Screen (Microsoft 365 and Excel 2016+)

1. Open Excel
2. Click File in the top-left corner
3. Select Account from the left sidebar
4. Look under Product Information — you'll see the product name and a About Excel button
5. Click About Excel to see the full version number, including the build number

The version string here looks something like: Microsoft® Excel® for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2308 Build 16.0.16731.20542) 64-bit

Each part tells you something different:

• Version 2308 refers to the release month (August 2023 in this case)
• Build number identifies the specific update installed
• 64-bit or 32-bit tells you the architecture — relevant for add-in compatibility

Method 2: Older Excel Versions (2013 and Earlier)

For Excel 2013 and older:

1. Open Excel
2. Click File, then Help
3. The version information appears on the right side of the screen under About Microsoft Excel

For Excel 2010:

1. Click File, then Help
2. Version details appear directly on the Help page

For Excel 2007:

1. Click the Office Button (the round logo in the top-left)
2. Click Excel Options
3. Select Resources, then About

How to Find Your Excel Version on Mac 🍎

Method 1: Through the Menu Bar

1. Open Excel
2. Click Excel in the top menu bar (not File — this is a Mac-specific location)
3. Select About Microsoft Excel
4. A dialog box appears showing the version number and build

Method 2: Through the Apple Menu

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen
2. Select About This Mac, then System Report
3. Under Software → Applications, scroll to find Microsoft Excel
4. The version number is listed in the detail panel

The Mac version numbering follows the same general pattern as Windows, though the build numbers differ between platforms even for the same feature release.

How to Find Your Excel Version in Excel Online (Web Browser)

Excel for the web doesn't carry a traditional version number the way desktop apps do — it's a continuously updated web application tied to your Microsoft 365 subscription. You won't find a build number through the interface.

What you can check:

• Log in at office.com
• Click your profile icon (top-right)
• Select My account or View account
• Under Subscriptions, you'll see your Microsoft 365 plan tier, which tells you what feature set you're entitled to

For practical purposes, Excel Online's feature availability is governed by your subscription tier and Microsoft's server-side rollout schedule, not a local build number.

How to Find Excel Version on Mobile (iOS and Android)

For Excel on iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Excel app
2. Tap your profile icon or initials in the top-left
3. Tap the gear icon or go to Settings
4. Scroll to About — the app version number is listed there

For Excel on Android:

1. Open Excel
2. Tap your profile icon
3. Tap Settings, then scroll to find version information 4, Alternatively, go to Settings → Apps → Microsoft Excel in your Android system settings for the installed app version

Mobile version numbers follow the app store release cycle and may lag behind or differ from desktop versioning.

Understanding What the Version Number Tells You

Microsoft 365 subscribers get rolling updates, so their build numbers change frequently. Perpetual license users (Excel 2016, 2019, 2021) receive security patches but not new features — their version numbers stay stable for years.

The Variables That Change What You Find

Several factors determine what version information is available to you:

• Installation type: Volume license installations (common in enterprise environments) may show different version strings than retail or subscription installs
• Update channel: Microsoft 365 users can be on different update channels — Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, or Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel — which affects which build number they're running even at the same subscription tier
• Admin permissions: On managed corporate machines, IT departments may restrict your access to update settings or version details
• Operating system: macOS and Windows version strings are formatted differently for the same Excel release
• App store vs. direct install: Mobile and Mac App Store installations update on slightly different schedules than direct Microsoft installs

Your specific combination of these factors determines exactly where your version number lives, what it looks like, and what it actually means for feature availability. The path that works for a home user on Microsoft 365 won't always be the same path that works for someone on a managed corporate device running a perpetual license — and both of those situations call for checking different things once the number is found.