Python in Excel add-on licensing FAQ

Python in Excel for Microsoft 365 allows you to author Python formulas directly in the Excel grid, create advanced visualizations, and perform complex data analysis. You also have access to open-source Python libraries and enterprise-level security.

The Python in Excel add-on license includes everything in Python in Excel for Microsoft 365, plus premium compute and more calculation mode options. Premium compute means faster Python formula calculation times. With the additional calculation mode options, you can switch between manual, partial, or automatic calculation modes to control when and how often your workbooks recalculate Python formulas. ​​​​​​​

Before you can purchase Python in Excel add-on licenses for your users, ensure that your tenant and users meet the requirements.

The tenant requirement: A Microsoft 365 Enterprise or Business subscription in the worldwide public sector with access to the desktop apps.

The user requirement: An Office 365 or Microsoft 365 subscription with access to the desktop apps. 

You should plan to assign a Python in Excel add-on license to every user you expect to need premium compute. This gives your users faster calculations and more calculation mode options with Python in Excel.

If you’d like users in your organization to get access to premium compute, you can purchase and assign them a Python in Excel add-on license in the Microsoft admin center. The Python in Excel add-on license is also available as a self-service purchase product, which means that eligible end users can request a license or purchase a license through in-app prompts in Excel.

If you’ve disabled self-service purchases in your tenant, the end user can instead submit a license request to you. These grouped notifications appear in the Microsoft 365 admin center, and you can manage these requests in the Requests tab on the Licenses page. To learn more, see Manage self-service license requests in the Microsoft 365 admin center. 

As an admin, you maintain visibility and control over the Python in Excel add-on licenses in your tenant. You can view licenses purchased by users in the Microsoft 365 admin center by going to Billing > Your Products. You can control licenses purchased by users and manage them as you would any other license in your tenant.

If your tenant and users meet the requirements for the Python in Excel add-on, you can purchase Python in Excel add-on licenses through your preferred purchasing channel.

After you purchase your Python in Excel add-on licenses, assign the licenses to your users in the Microsoft 365 admin center. It can take up to 72 hours before the assignment takes effect. For instructions on assigning licenses in the Microsoft 365 admin center, see Assign Microsoft 365 licenses to users.