Excel users have a reason to celebrate! A new beta version of Microsoft Excel introduces a feature that allows pivot tables to refresh automatically. Historically, users needed to manually click to update pivot tables whenever there was a change in the underlying data, which was not always remembered. While charts in Excel already automatically refresh, this new function for pivot tables marks a significant improvement.
With the introduction of the “Auto Refresh” function in the Beta Channel (Version 2506 Build 19008.2000 or higher), updates to the source data—like new sales entries or corrections—will now instantly be reflected in the pivot table. This creates a more streamlined experience, as users can rely on real-time updates without needing to take additional steps. If users prefer to disable this feature for any reason, they can easily navigate to the PivotTable Analyze tab and select the Auto Refresh option to turn it off. However, there are some limitations to keep in mind.
The new Auto Refresh capability works on a per-data source basis, meaning it will not reflect updates from external data sources connected to the workbook. This is intended to maintain consistency in the data. Furthermore, while Excel currently allows sharing of files that can auto-refresh upon opening, this functionality is not as seamless as the real-time updates found in competitors like Google Sheets. It’s also worth noting that Excel may not refresh if new cells are added outside the current range of the pivot table, similar to a limitation in Google Sheets.
Nevertheless, Excel users can look forward to this enhancement and can get early access by participating in Microsoft’s beta testing program.