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Can Claude read Excel files?

Yes in the Claude apps with code execution on (the default on Free, Pro and Max). Claude.ai reads an uploaded .xlsx or CSV and can analyze it in its sandbox, and Claude Code can read a file on your disk with a script. Apps without code execution only see what you paste. Connect the Spreadsheet server (free token) and any MCP app can list the sheets and columns of a workbook, filter and sort rows with a query, search every cell and get per-column stats.

Connect with a free token Spreadsheet MCP server

What Claude does alone, and what needs the server

Claude on its own

  • Explains formulas and what a table means.
  • Reads an uploaded .xlsx or CSV and analyzes it in its sandbox when code execution is on.

With the Spreadsheet server

  • The same sheet, column and type listing in any MCP app, with no sandbox needed.
  • Filters and sorts that run on the real rows.
  • The same query again next month on the new file.

A real call to the live server

We sent this to the hosted server on 2026-11-05. The answer below is the server's own text, not a mock-up. Live values will differ when you ask.

You ask

What is in sales-2026.xlsx?

Tool call

sheet_info {"path":"sales-2026"}

Server answer

{"file": "sales-2026.xlsx", "format": "xlsx", "sheets": [{"name": "Orders", "dimensions": "7 rows x 4 cols", "columns": ["Date (date)", "Customer (text)", "Region (text)", "Amount (number)"]}, {"name": "Notes", "dimensions": "1 rows x 1 cols", "columns": ["Exported from the shop system (empty)"]}]}

The workbook was loaded with sheet_load first. The server answers in JSON. This is a shortened copy that shows each column as name and type, without the sample values and row counts.

You ask

List the October orders over 500, largest first.

Tool call

sheet_query {"path":"sales-2026","where":"[Amount] > 500 AND [Date] >= \"2026-10-01\"","sort":{"col":"Amount","dir":"desc"}}

Server answer

Query: where [Amount] > 500 AND [Date] >= "2026-10-01"; sort Amount desc 3 of 6 rows match, showing 3 | Date | Customer | Region | Amount | |------------|-----------------|--------|--------| | 2026-10-11 | Oak Street Cafe | East | 1250 | | 2026-10-02 | Harbor Dental | East | 640 | | 2026-10-19 | Northside Gym | West | 515 |

Connect it in 1 minute

Get a free token first. No account, 30 days, 600 calls an hour. Put it in the URL in place of <token>. In Claude.ai or Claude Desktop open Settings, then Connectors, then Add custom connector, and paste the URL.

1. Free token

curl -s -X POST https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/token

Connector URL (replace <token>)

https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/spreadsheet/t/<token>

Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport http spreadsheet https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/spreadsheet/t/<token>

Cursor (~/.cursor/mcp.json)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "spreadsheet": {
      "url": "https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/spreadsheet/t/<token>"
    }
  }
}

VS Code (.vscode/mcp.json)

{
  "servers": {
    "spreadsheet": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/spreadsheet/t/<token>"
    }
  }
}

All 8 tools, free and Pro limits and more prompts are on the Spreadsheet MCP server page.

Questions

Can Claude read Excel files?
Yes in the Claude apps with code execution on (the default on Free, Pro and Max). Claude.ai reads an uploaded .xlsx or CSV and can analyze it in its sandbox, and Claude Code can read a file on your disk with a script. Apps without code execution only see what you paste. Connect the Spreadsheet server (free token) and any MCP app can list the sheets and columns of a workbook, filter and sort rows with a query, search every cell and get per-column stats.
Which files does it read?
Locally xlsx, xlsm, xlsb, ods, csv and tsv. The hosted server loads .xlsx and CSV.
What is free?
Reading, querying and stats. The hosted server holds up to 2 MB of loaded sheets per token. On the hosted server your files and records are kept for your token for 30 days, refreshed on every write. Install the server locally if you want nothing to leave your machine.
Is the server free?
The hosted Spreadsheet server has a free tier. A free token lasts 30 days and allows 600 calls an hour, with no account. Some features are Pro, and the server page lists what is free and what is not.

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