Excel “Data from Picture” missing, retired or not working? Fixes for Windows, Mac and iPhone
Short answer
On many work PCs it's gone on purpose: Microsoft is retiring Data from Picture (Insert Data from Image) in Excel for Windows on the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel, from Version 2602 in July 2026. Elsewhere, Data from Picture is only in Excel for Microsoft 365 — not in one-time-purchase Office 2021 or earlier. On Windows it's under Data → From Picture and needs Windows 10 version 1903 or later. On a Mac it's Data → Data From Picture. If the button is there but greyed out, the privacy setting for connected experiences is off, or your admin turned it off. If you can't use it, or the document shouldn't be sent to Microsoft, an iPhone app such as QuickScan reads the table on the phone and gives you an Excel file for your computer.
Excel can turn a picture of a table into cells. When it can't — no button, a greyed-out command, an error, or a garbled table — the cause is almost always one of the six below. Here's where the command lives on each device, how to fix each cause, and what to use when it still doesn't work.
Where to find Data from Picture
| Excel on | Where it is | What it reads |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Data → From Picture → Picture From File or Picture From Clipboard | An image file, or a screenshot (Windows+Shift+S) |
| Mac | Data → Data From Picture → Picture From File or Picture From Clipboard; or right-click a cell → Scan Documents | An image file, a screenshot, or a scan with your iPhone (Continuity Camera) |
| The web | Data → Data From Picture | An image file |
| iPhone, iPad, Android | Insert → Data from Picture in the Excel app; or Actions → Image to Table in the Microsoft 365 app | The camera |
Menu names from Microsoft Support: Insert data from picture.
Why is “From Picture” missing or greyed out?
- Your work PC is on the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel: the feature is being retired there. In Message Center post MC1191944 (text here), Microsoft says Insert Data from Image retires in Excel for Windows on the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel, starting with Version 2602 in July 2026, and won't be in future Semi-Annual releases. Version 2508 keeps it until September 2026. A new version that works with Copilot Chat is being built for Current Channel and Monthly Enterprise Channel, not for Semi-Annual. To check your channel, open File → Account: under About Excel it names the channel. Only your IT admin can move you to another update channel. Excel on Mac, the web and mobile aren't part of this notice.
- Your Excel isn't Microsoft 365. Microsoft lists Data from Picture for Excel for Microsoft 365 only. One-time-purchase Office 2021, 2019 and 2016 don't have it, even fully updated. On Windows, check File → Account: the product name should say Microsoft 365. On a Mac, check Excel → About Excel.
- Excel is out of date. On Windows the feature arrived in Microsoft 365 Version 2210. Update with File → Account → Update Options → Update Now, or on a Mac with Help → Check for Updates. Then restart Excel.
- Windows is missing a requirement. Microsoft lists Windows 11, or Windows 10 version 1903 or later, and the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime. Most PCs already have WebView2. If yours doesn't, install it from Microsoft.
- Connected experiences are turned off: the command is greyed out or shows an error. Microsoft counts Insert data from picture as a connected experience that analyzes your content. Turn those experiences on under File → Account → Account Privacy → Manage Settings on Windows, or Excel → Preferences → Privacy on a Mac. On a work or school account, the admin decides, and you won't see the switch.
- On iPhone or iPad: update Excel from the App Store, sign in with the account that has your Microsoft 365 plan, be online, and allow Excel to use the camera in the Settings app.
Why does it get the table wrong?
- Angled or busy pictures. A photo taken from the side, or with other text around the table, shifts columns and rows. Microsoft's advice: only the data in the picture, cropped if needed, taken straight on, in good light.
- Big tables. Long tables come back with many cells to review. Do a smaller part at a time.
- A table on screen? Don't photograph the monitor. Take a screenshot and use Picture From Clipboard.
When an app built for this is the better fit
| Excel Data from Picture | QuickScan | |
|---|---|---|
| Excel version | Microsoft 365 only; retiring on Windows Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel | Any Excel that opens .xlsx files, plus Numbers and Google Sheets |
| Account | Microsoft account (Microsoft 365) | None |
| Where the picture is read | Microsoft's online service | On your iPhone |
| Works offline | No | Yes |
| Output | Cells inserted into an open sheet | An .xlsx or CSV file |
| Fixing cells | Review before inserting | Unsure cells highlighted; tap to fix |
| Several pages | One picture at a time | Several pages, one sheet each |
| Price | Included with Microsoft 365 | 3 free exports, then a one-time unlock |
If Data from Picture works for you, keep using it. QuickScan is for when it doesn't. Maybe your Excel isn't Microsoft 365, your company's update channel lost the feature, your work account has it switched off, or the document — a bank statement, a payslip, a customer list — shouldn't leave your phone.
On a computer? Point your iPhone's camera at the code to open QuickScan in the App Store.
3 free exports, then a one-time unlock. No subscription.
From your iPhone to Excel on your computer
- In QuickScan, tap Scan a table and photograph the page. Or choose a screenshot from Photos.
- Check the highlighted cells and tap any cell to fix it.
- Tap Export, choose Excel (.xlsx), then AirDrop it to your Mac, save it to Files (iCloud Drive or OneDrive), or email it to yourself. Open it in Excel on your computer.
Other free ways
All the options side by side — Excel, Live Text, ChatGPT, converter apps and QuickScan — are in photo of a table to Excel on iPhone: five ways compared. For a few values, Live Text works: press and hold on the text in a photo and copy it. It copies text, not cells, so a table pastes into one column — the paste-to-columns tool splits it back. For a table on a screen, a screenshot is the most reliable input for any of these tools.
On a computer? Point your iPhone's camera at the code to open QuickScan in the App Store.
3 free exports, then a one-time unlock. No subscription.
Questions
Is Excel's Data from Picture being retired?
On one update channel, yes. In Message Center post MC1191944, Microsoft says Insert Data from Image retires in Excel for Windows on the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel, starting with Version 2602 (July 2026); Version 2508 keeps it until September 2026. A new version that works with Copilot Chat is being built for Current Channel and Monthly Enterprise Channel. Mac, web and mobile aren't mentioned.
Why don't I see 'From Picture' on Excel's Data tab?
Data from Picture is only in Excel for Microsoft 365. One-time-purchase Office 2021, 2019 and 2016 don't have it, even fully updated. On Windows it also needs Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 1903 or later, and the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime.
Why is Data from Picture greyed out?
Microsoft lists Insert data from picture as a connected experience that analyzes your content. If those experiences are turned off, the command is greyed out or shows an error. Turn them on under File > Account > Account Privacy > Manage Settings (Windows) or Excel > Preferences > Privacy (Mac). On a work or school account, your admin decides.
Does Data from Picture upload my picture?
It's one of the connected experiences that analyze your content, which means Microsoft's service reads the picture. That's also why it stops working when those experiences are turned off.
Is Data from Picture in Excel 2021 or Excel 2019?
No. It's only available in Excel for Microsoft 365, on Windows, Mac, the web and the mobile apps.
Does QuickScan need a Microsoft account?
No. It needs no account and works offline. It reads the table on your iPhone and exports an .xlsx or CSV file that opens in Excel on Windows or Mac, Numbers or Google Sheets.