How do I download the excel app?

Open the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) and search for Microsoft Excel. Install the app — it is free. The app icon is green with an X on it.

How do I sign in with a free microsoft account?

Open the Excel app and tap Sign In. Enter your Microsoft account email and password. If you do not have one, tap Create Account and follow the steps — you can use any email address to create a free account. You do not need to buy anything.

How do I open an existing spreadsheet?

If someone emailed you an Excel file, open the email and tap the attachment. Your phone should offer to open it in the Excel app. You can then view and edit the spreadsheet. Alternatively, tap Open inside the Excel app and browse for files saved on your phone or in OneDrive.

How do I create a new spreadsheet?

Tap the New or + button inside the Excel app. Choose Blank Workbook to start from scratch, or tap a template such as Budget, List, or Schedule. Templates give you a ready-made structure to fill in with your own information.

How do I enter and edit data?

Tap any cell (one of the boxes in the grid) to select it. Type your text or number using the keyboard that appears. Press Enter or the green check mark to confirm the entry and move to the next cell. To edit a cell's contents, tap it once to select it and then tap the content area near the top of the screen.

How do I save and share?

Tap the Save icon (a floppy disk symbol) or go to File > Save As. Save to OneDrive for automatic cloud backup, or choose your phone's local storage. To share the file, tap the Share icon (a box with an upward arrow) and choose to send it by email or through another app.

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Microsoft Excel is one of the most widely used tools for tracking numbers, making lists, and organizing information. The full desktop version requires a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, but the mobile app for iPhone and Android is free for personal use on screens smaller than 10.1 inches.

With the free mobile version of Excel, you can open and view any Excel file (.xlsx) that someone sends you, make edits to existing spreadsheets, and create new spreadsheets from scratch. For most personal uses — tracking a household budget, keeping a list, making a simple table — the free mobile app has everything you need.

The app also works with OneDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage service. If you save your spreadsheets to OneDrive, you can open them on your phone, edit them, and have the changes automatically available on your computer as well.

You do need a free Microsoft account to use the Excel mobile app with full editing features. Creating a Microsoft account is free and only takes a few minutes at account.microsoft.com.

Excel on a phone can feel a little tight on a small screen because spreadsheets have many rows and columns. Many people find it easier on a tablet or iPad where there is more screen space. However, for viewing and making small edits, even a regular phone screen works well.