ExcelMcp

ExcelMcp is a local MCP server for Windows desktop sessions. It drives real Microsoft Excel through the COM API instead of bypassing the application to edit workbook files directly. Agents can work with formulas, tables, charts, PivotTables, Power Query, DAX, VBA, and Python in Excel. That reach also inherits the current user's access to local files and Excel, so writes, saves, closes, and macros need explicit boundaries.

Confirm Windows, desktop Excel, and an interactive session first. Then choose the VS Code extension with its bundled server or an npx stdio configuration. Use an empty test workbook for the first check and avoid production files.

Help me install and configure ExcelMcp from https://github.com/sbroenne/mcp-server-excel. Read README.md, docs/INSTALLATION.md, docs/INSTALLATION-MCP-SERVER.md, PRIVACY.md, SECURITY.md, and LICENSE first. Confirm Windows 10+, Excel 2016+, an interactive desktop, and Node.js 18+ for npx. Ask which MCP client and configuration scope I want, and do not overwrite existing MCP settings. Prefer the documented `npx -y @sbroenne/mcp-server-excel@latest` stdio configuration; for VS Code, the bundled extension is also acceptable. After setup, create test.xlsx only in the nonsensitive directory I specify, list worksheets, write one value, read it back, and save. Do not open production workbooks, run macros, enable VBA project access, send M or DAX to external formatters, or invoke Python in Excel without separate confirmation. Report every changed configuration, command, path, version, and verification result.

{"mcpServers":{"excel-mcp":{"command":"npx","args":["-y","@sbroenne/mcp-server-excel@latest"],"env":{}}}}

1. 1
   Check Windows and Excel prerequisites

   Verify Windows, Excel, and an interactive desktop session; also check Node.js 18+ and network access for npx.

2. 2
   Back up and add MCP configuration

   Back up the client's existing settings, set excel-mcp to use npx, and copy the documented package name and arguments.

3. 3
   Restart the client and inspect the connection

   Restart the MCP client and confirm the Excel tools appear; inspect client logs and version output if startup fails.

4. 4
   Create an isolated test workbook

   Create test.xlsx in a nonsensitive directory, record the returned session_id, and use only that session.

5. 5
   Read back and end the session safely

   Write and read one test value, then explicitly save and close; treat every close-without-save action as destructive.

ExcelMcp's strongest point is its use of the official Excel COM API to operate the real desktop application, with common analysis and reporting work grouped into 31 tools and 387 operations. Its installation, privacy, and security documentation clearly describes local file permissions, anonymous telemetry, remote formatting, and Python in Excel data flows. The main constraints are Windows and desktop Excel, exclusive workbook access, no tool-level undo for destructive operations, and extra components or services for some advanced features. This review is based only on the public repository and releases, without installation on Windows.