Microsoft Excel MCP server
Integrate Microsoft Excel spreadsheets with AI agents to automate data entry, analysis, and reporting. An AI agent connected to Excel can read and write cell values, create tables, build formulas, apply formatting, and generate charts—all from natural language instructions. Use this for financial analysis, data processing, automated reporting, or any workflow involving spreadsheet manipulation.
Setting up an MCP server
This article covers the standard steps for creating an MCP server in AI Gateway and connecting it to an AI client. The steps are the same for every integration — application-specific details (API credentials, OAuth endpoints, and scopes) are covered in the Authentication section on this page.
Before you begin
You'll need:
- Access to AI Gateway with permission to create MCP servers.
- API credentials for the application you're connecting (see the Authentication section on this page for what to collect).
Create an MCP server
Find the app in the catalog
- Sign in to AI Gateway and select App Catalog from the left navigation.
- Search for the application you want to connect, then select it from the catalog.
- Select Create MCP Server to start the wizard.
App Configuration
Confirm the Base URL for the API, then, under Tools, select the endpoints you want to expose. Select Next.
MCP Server Setup
- Enter a Name for your server — something descriptive that identifies both the application and its purpose.
- Enter a Description so your team knows what the server is for.
- Set the log level: choose Production Mode for terser logs, or Non-Production Mode for more verbose logs that can help with debugging.
- Select Next.
Authentication
Enter the authentication details for the application. This varies by service — see the Authentication section on this page for the specific credentials, OAuth URLs, and scopes to use.
Review
Look over the summary of your MCP server configuration, then select Create & Deploy. AI Gateway provisions the server and provides a server URL you'll use when configuring your AI client.
Connect to an AI client
Once your server is deployed, you'll need to add it to the AI client your team uses. Select your client for setup instructions:
Tips
- You can create multiple MCP servers for the same application — for example, a read-only server for reporting agents and a read-write server for automation workflows.
- If you're unsure which OAuth scopes to request, start with the minimum read-only set and add write scopes only when needed. Most application pages include scope recommendations.
Authentication
Excel integration uses OAuth 2.0 authentication through Microsoft Graph. Register an application in Azure AD to receive your tenant-specific endpoints and configure your client ID and client secret. In the Azure Portal, go to Azure Active Directory > App registrations and click New registration to create your application.
| Value | Setting |
|---|---|
| Auth endpoint | https://login.microsoftonline.com/{tenant-id}/oauth2/v2.0/authorize |
| Token endpoint | https://login.microsoftonline.com/{tenant-id}/oauth2/v2.0/token |
| Scopes | Files.ReadWrite, Sites.ReadWrite.All, User.Read |
Available tools
These tools enable reading workbook data, modifying cell contents, creating and managing tables, building formulas, and applying formatting to spreadsheets.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| List workbooks | List all workbooks the user has access to |
| Get workbook details | Retrieve metadata and properties for a specific workbook |
| Read cell values | Get the values from a cell or range of cells |
| Write cell values | Set values in cells or ranges |
| Create table | Convert a range into an Excel table |
| Add formula | Insert formulas like SUM, VLOOKUP, or custom calculations |
| Format cells | Apply number formats, currency, percentages, or dates |
| Create chart | Generate charts from worksheet data |
| Get range | Retrieve a range of cells with their values and formatting |
| Update range | Modify a range of cells in bulk |
Tips
Use relative references when writing formulas so they adjust automatically when copied to other cells.
Refresh your session periodically if performing many operations, as Excel's Graph API enforces session timeouts.
Use batch operations when working with large datasets to reduce API calls and improve performance.
Keep workbooks organized in consistent folder structures so the agent can locate files reliably.
Test formulas and formatting on a small dataset before applying them to production spreadsheets.
Cequence AI Gateway