Microsoft Excel shown off supporting handwriting recognition at Surface event

9 essential apps if you own a Surface Pen (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

What you need to know

Microsoft showed off handwriting recognition inside Microsoft Excel at the October Surface event.
Handwriting recognition makes it easier to use a pen on devices like the Surface Pro 7.
Handwriting recognition is already supported on several Microsoft apps like Microsoft Word.

In addition to showing off several new pieces of hardware, Microsoft showed off a new handwriting recognition feature for Microsoft Excel at the October Surface event. During the Surface keynote, the presenter used an Ink Editor to hand write numbers and figures into an Excel spreadsheet.

Several Microsoft apps already support handwriting recognition, such as Word and OneNote, but Microsoft pointed out that many Excel users feel left out. With this new feature, Excel users will be able to edit spreadsheets with a pen.

The feature does not have a release date at this point.

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Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.