Sometimes it’s essential to have access to Excel files when you’re on the go. This article will explore how you can use Excel on your phone, as well as some tips for navigating this app on mobile devices.
Using Excel on Phones
Do you need to use Microsoft Excel but are away from your computer? If so, the good news is that Excel is available on mobile devices such as phones. Not only is Excel offered in full as a mobile app, but so too is the entire Microsoft Office suite. The Excel app is currently available on devices that have a screen size of 10.1 inches or less. It’s free to download and provides users with a variety of basic functions, like creating, editing, or viewing worksheets. However, if you want to use more advanced Excel features, a subscription to Office 365 is required.
Excel for Android & iOS
Microsoft Excel Preview is available on Android and iOS phones. Those who download this app have access to the same functions as desktop Excel but in mobile form. When working with the Android Excel app, you can click on any cell, long press on it, and a menu will appear that provides options for formatting, different formulas, or clearing data. Excel files can be shared on Android phones using the Quick Export and Share button. For iOS users who need to open a shared Excel file that was sent through email, choose the Options button that’s located at the bottom of an email. From there, you can select “Open With,” then “Excel.”
Charts can be created or inserted into Excel files on iOS or Android phones with one tap. To do so, choose the cells with the necessary data or the cell where you’d like to insert the chart. Then, long press on that area and choose “Insert chart.”
Excel for Galaxy Smartphone
Office Mobile is natively integrated on the newer Samsung smartphones, such as the Note 20, Note 20 Ultra 5G, S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra 5G. In addition to Excel, PowerPoint and Word documents can also be viewed, created, and edited using Galaxy phones. A single view is provided of recently opened documents, which simplifies the process of document retrieval. Because it’s integrated with Microsoft OneDrive, users have instant, secure access to their important files that are stored in the cloud.
Excel for iPhone
The Microsoft Office mobile app allows iPhone users to edit both Excel and Word files directly from their iPhones. The app is free for home use and can be downloaded from the iPhone App Store. Although the mobile version doesn’t include every Excel feature the desktop version comes with, it provides users with basic tools for formatting, as well as an extensive assortment of spreadsheet formulas. Once the app is connected to your Microsoft account, you can make edits to documents that were created on a computer, then save them to the cloud using OneDrive.
When using Excel on an iPhone, several templates are provided: Event Schedule, Mileage Tracker, and Budget. Users can choose one of these templates or work with a blank document. To do so, click on the screen to access the virtual keyboard and start writing. You can add content to a cell by selecting the cell, at which time the cursor will move to the “Fx” field on the top of the screen, where formulas, numbers, or text can be entered. If you start entering a formula, Excel will provide a list with options from which to select. The Edit button at the top of the screen provides formatting tools, such as currency, percentage, date, and text.
Using Your Camera Phone to Import Data to a Spreadsheet
In addition to creating and editing Excel worksheets on your phone, you can also import data right into an Excel spreadsheet using the camera on your phone. This convenient feature saves users time and the hassle of working with multiple devices.
Here are the necessary steps to import a spreadsheet into Excel using your camera phone:
- Log into your Excel app, then tap the plus sign in the upper righthand corner of the screen.
- Open a new document.
- Select either a blank worksheet or a free template provided by the platform.
- Tap on the cell where you wish to input data.
- Select the Menu button on the top of the screen.
- From the menu options, choose Home > Insert > Data from a picture. This gives Excel permission to use the camera.
- Point the camera at the table you’d like to scan.
- Select the shutter button so that the cropping frame will appear on the screen and outline the information you want to input.
- Select Continue.
- Before Excel pastes the data into your document it will provide you with a preview to ensure that everything looks good. It will also flag any potential errors by painting the affected cells red. If this occurs, you can select that entry and then tap on Edit.
- Once you have the inputted data as you wish, click on the Open tab at the bottom of the screen to access it.
Using Microsoft Excel on phones is a convenient and easy alternative to lugging around a laptop or having to find a desktop computer to complete work. It provides those on the go with the convenience and power of this spreadsheet application, all in the palm of their hand.
Learn More About Excel with Hands-On Classes
If you are interested in learning to work with Microsoft Excel, Noble Desktop currently offers a variety of Excel courses in NYC and live online. Classes are available for those who are new to Excel, as well as learners who regularly work with this spreadsheet application and wish to brush up on their skills. In addition, there are also in-person and live online Excel courses available through Noble Desktop or one of its affiliate schools. A variety of course options are offered, ranging in duration from three hours to two days and costing between $229 and $1,099.
Noble Desktop’s Excel Bootcamp provides a great option for those who want to master core Excel concepts, such as working with VLOOKUP and PivotTables, as well as What-If Analysis. Students who enroll in this rigorous, 21-hour course can elect to study in person in Manhattan or learn in the live online environment. This small class comes with the option of a free retake and covers a variety of Excel concepts applicable to the business world.