Compatibility Versions contain improvements to Excel functions that update based on a workbook setting. This will allow you to access these improvements, while ensuring that your workbooks will continue to work as expected. Each version contains all changes from previous versions.
New workbooks will be set to Version 1, the current Recommended Version. In January 2026, once Version 2 is broadly available in all channels of subscription Excel, Version 2 will become the Recommended Version in the Current Channel.
Compatibility Versions
Workbooks that predated this feature are treated as being Version 1.
|
Version |
Functions with changes |
Description of changes |
Excel Versions that have access |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Version 1 (Recommended) |
N/A (Compatible with legacy Excel) |
All versions |
|
|
Version 2 |
LEN, MID, FIND, SEARCH and REPLACE functions |
Support for Unicode surrogate pairs |
Excel for M365 |
You can set a workbook's compatibility version through Formulas > Calculation Options > Compatibility Version
For Excel 2024 and previous, the highest available Compatibility Version is Version 1 and the Recommended Version is Version 1.
|
Release Channel |
Highest Available Compat. Version |
Recommended Version (Version for new workbooks) |
|---|---|---|
|
Beta |
Version 2 |
Version 1 |
|
Preview |
Version 1 |
Version 1 |
|
Current |
Version 1 |
Version 1 |
|
Monthly Enterprise |
Version 1 |
Version 1 |
|
Semi-Annual Enterprise |
Version 1 |
Version 1 |
