The Complete Guide to Installing Power Query

Power Query is an amazing data tool for Excel!  It is built by Microsoft to help you import, transform, and automate your data processes.  Checkout my overview of Power Query to learn more about it.

Here is a quick list of compatible versions:

  • “Free” add-in for Excel 2010 and 2013 for Windows.
  • Built-in feature for Excel 2016 for Windows (Office 365 Subscription).  Click here to learn where to find it.
  • Power Query is not yet available for the Mac versions of Excel.

Complete Guide to Installing Power Query

This page will help you determine if you have the right version of Excel, and provide installation instructions.

Video Guide to Installing Power Query

What Version Do I Need?

The download page for Power Query lists which version of Excel are compatible with Power Query.

The following Office versions for Windows are supported:

  • Microsoft Office 2016 – All Versions
  • Microsoft Office 2013 – All Versions
  • Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus with Software Assurance

Both 32-bit and 64-bit are supported.  Power Query is not compatible with any Mac versions of Excel yet.

Unfortunately, if you don't have these versions you will need to upgrade to use Power Query.  To me, Power Query is worth the upgrade to Office 365 alone, and there are a lot of other cool new features too.

How Do I Check My Version of Excel?

Excel 2010

Here's how to determine your version and 32 or 64 bit in Excel 2010:

  1. Click the File button.
  2. Click the Help option on the left side menu.
  3. The Excel version will be listed under the Product Activated section.
  4. The bit version (32-bit or 64-bit) will be listed under the About Microsoft Excel section.

Excel 2010 Version and 32 or 64 bit

If your Excel looks like the screenshot above, then you are in luck! 🙂  Again, you will need the Professional Plus version of Excel 2010.

Excel 2013

Here's how to determine your version and 32 or 64 bit in Excel 2013:

  1. Click the File button.
  2. Click the Account option on the left side menu.
  3. The Excel version will be listed under the Subscription Product section.
  4. Click the About Excel button.  The bit version (32-bit or 64-bit) will be listed in the first row of the pop-up window.

Excel 2013 Version and 32 or 64 bit

How to Install Power Query

Excel 2016

Power Query is included with Excel 2016 (Office 365).  It has been renamed and is now on the Data tab of the Ribbon in the Get & Transform section.

Power Query in Excel 2016 for Windows Data Tab of Ribbon Get and Transform

This means there is nothing to install.  If you are using Excel 2016, go to the Data tab on the ribbon and press the New Query button to create a query and open the Power Query editor.

Power Query is available with all levels of Office 365 subscriptions.  Here is an article that explains the features available for each subscription level.

It's important to note that there are some differences in Power Query for different builds of Excel 2016.

If you are on the MSI (Windows Installer) version then you will not get frequent updates to Power Query.  Your ribbon might look different from mine, and you won't have all the latest features.

If you are on an Office 365 subscription then you have the Click-to-run version and you should get all the latest updates.   Here is an article on how to determine which version of 2016 your are on.

If you are on the ProPlus version of Office 365 then you might be on the Deferred Channel.  The name of the Deferred Channel has been changed to Semi-Annual Channel as of September 2017.  This means you get updates every six months instead of every month.

Here is an article about the different channels for Office 365 ProPlus.

Here is an article on how to switch channels.

All the versions and channels make this very confusing, to say the least.  Hopefully this guide helps you figure out how to get Power Query for Excel 2016.

Checkout my article on an Overview of Power Query to learn more about this awesome tool!

Excel 2010 & 2013

For Excel 2010 and 2013 you will need to download the Power Query add-in and install it.

The installation steps are about the same in Excel 2010 and 2013.

  1. Close (exit) Excel completely.
  2. Click the following link to go to the download page.
    http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39379
    Power Query Download Page
  3. Click the Download button.
  4. Click the checkbox for the bit version you are using.  Most likely you will be using 32-bit.
    Download Power Query Select Bit Version
  5. Click Next
  6. The add-in installation file will download.  Click the file to run the installation.
    Power Query Run Installer
  7. The Setup Wizard window will open.  Follow the steps to install Power Query.
    Power Query Installation Window - Setup Wizard
  8. Once the installation is complete, open Excel.  You should now see the Power Query tab in the Ribbon.
    Power Query Tab of the Ribbon Excel 2010Power Query Tab of the Ribbon Excel 2013

My Power Query Tab Disappeared

If your Power Query tab ever goes missing, you can usually re-enable the add-in by going to the COM Add-ins menu.

There are a few ways to get to the COM Add-ins menu.

  1. File menu.
  2. Click Options on left side menu.
  3. Click Add-ins on left side menu.
  4. Select COM Add-ins from the Manage drop-down.
  5. Click the Go… button
    Excel 2010 Options Menu for COM Add-ins
  6. That will open the COM Add-ins Window.  If the Power Query check box is not selected, just select it to reload the add-in.
    COM Add-ins Menu for Power Query

There is also a button on the Developer tab that will take you directly to this window.

COM Add-ins Button on the Developer Tab of the Excel Ribbon

Getting Started with Power Query

Power Query is my favorite tool for working with data in Excel.  If you are not familiar with what Power Query can do, checkout my article on an Overview of Power Query to learn more.

 

Please leave a comment below with any questions.

160 comments

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  • But here i am facing issue with Office 365 Proplus,see the details below:
    Issue:I am not able to add Power Query to the excel.

    Even i am able to see the power query from COM add-ins,but when we check it and then click OK..still am not getting the power query tab.

    Its giving error like ‘a runtime error occurred during the loading of the COM add-in’.
    Please help me.

    Thanks,
    Kishore

      • I have the same issue and I posted to the link provided above and left them a piece of my mind and a few suggestions. Im posting here os see if you have any other thought on how to trouble shoot this. I’ve checked the windows event viewer and nothing is telling me anything more to investigate than this ambiguous error.

        thanks!

        • Hi David,
          Sorry to hear you are having issues too. I read your comment on technet and can see how this is very frustrating for you.

          Power Query is baked into Excel 2016, no longer an add-in, and is now on the Data tab of the ribbon. Although it’s no longer called Power Query, which is a whole other issue on it’s own…

          The real focus of bringing all these add-ins together is in PowerBI.com and the PowerBI Desktop app. The PowerBI Desktop app is a completely separate application from Excel, and also a free download. You can get all the details at PowerBI.com. I also have a video overview of PowerBI.com, although a lot of this is already outdated.

          MS is developing the PowerBI platform at a rapid pace, and this seems to be separating itself from Excel. Although Excel will still integrate and contain some of these features, I believe PowerBI is meant to be a stand alone app that will compete with Tableau.

          I think they are still trying to figure it out as well, and this is definitely creating a lot of confusion for end users. Mike Alexander from Data Pig had a funny and interesting blog post on the topic recently.

          I agree that these are some amazing tools and technologies that are taking a long time to find their place in the top shelf of the toolbox…

          I hope you can get the errors resolved and sorry I couldn’t be more help David.

  • I have installed Power Query, however, the “Online Search” button is not showing up the ribbon…any ideas as to why?

    • Hi Stephen,

      Great question! The Online Search button is no longer included on the latest version of Power Query. My screenshots are outdated. I’m not sure why they took it out, it was a great feature. Hopefully it will reappear in a future version.

      Power Query is updated about once a month and is being improved all the time. This is awesome! The only disadvantage is that my screenshots become outdated pretty quickly. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks Stephen!

    • Hi Jake,
      Sorry, I don’t have any experience with MySQL connections yet. You might want to post the question on a forum with more details on what you are looking to do. Thanks!

    • Hello Jake! According to the latest release notes, “..- Power Query Public:
      • Features included: All, except the following connectors: Corporate Power BI Data Catalog, Azure-based data sources, Active Directory, HDFS, SharePoint Lists, Oracle, DB2, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Sybase, Teradata, Exchange, Dynamics CRM, SAP BusinessObjects, Salesforce.
      • SKUs supported: All Desktop SKUs.”
      It appears that you will not be able to connect to MySQL using the free version of Power Query. Hope this helps.

  • Hi,

    Thank you for your guide.

    After installing then under tab “Power Query” under button “from database” I only get three choices: SQL Server, Access and SQL Analisys Server.

    Guides talk about many more to select including Oracle.

    Did I install something incorrectly – do you have any tips for that?

  • Having completed the step that was suggested i still have the power query tab missing and i recieve this dialog box error message, which i cannot make much sense of. I have pasted the entireity of the error message below. What do I need to do to make the power query tab appear.
    Image
    See the end of this message for details on invoking
    just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

    ************** Exception Text **************
    System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly ‘Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel, Version=14.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=71e9bce111e9429c’ or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.

    • Hi Chris,
      Are you using Excel 2010? If so, I believe you need the Professional Plus edition with Software Assurance. Do you have that version? There are instructions above on how to find out what version you have. Let me know if that helps. Thanks

  • Jon to be blunt YOU ROCK! And I feel totally ignorant for not knowing about this as I thought I was pretty up on this all (FacePalm).

    There is another ultimate reason that I did not write about for needing this past the training and roll-out of this. I’d be happy to take this all offline. But what I ultimately need as the end game (and I 1/2 know what I’m talking about as I’m reading this all for the 1st time) a PowerBI content pack that people can buy or subscribe to (perhaps a registered app) powered by our live data so it can run on the PowerBI platform. Do you know of any PowerBI developers that are GOOD and yet reasonable. I have an in house developer and I dabble too but it would help to have someone in the know.

  • Does Power Query work with Office 365, 2016 Version? I downloaded the add in but it won’t show up on my add ins under ‘com’? Do I need to upgrade to Office 365 PRO?

    Steve

    • Hi Steve,
      Power Query is actually including in Excel 2016 and you do not need to install the add-in. It is located on the Data tab of the ribbon in the Get & Transform section. There is nothing labeled Power Query on that tab.

      I need to update this page with the new info for 2016. Thanks!

  • Hi experts
    As I needed Power Query for an EDX course I faithfully checked I had Excel 2010 professional plus 32 bit and then downloaded power query. For whatever reason I can see power query as a tab in excel but nothing else (ie no power pivot etc) I checked in the options and add-coms ONLY gave me power query NOT power pivot or anything else for that matter. Because I have downloaded a preprepared worksheet with embedded data , I cannot open it as I don’t have the button/tab called manage data? I am about to give up as i cannot afford an upgrade at the moment given this is for personal use not business. Any help links or bad news gratefully received. Thanks

  • Hi Jon
    Trying to import data from SPoint lists with power query (in Excel 2016: Office 365 French version) but don’t have that choice in the “from other sources menu”. All I find on Microsoft help on line is related to Excel 2013. Also have a need to import data from Exchange. Not is the list either.

    How can I add those data sources in the menu or connect to them ?
    Thanks

  • I am using 2016 version and when I installed this doesn’t show up any help on what am I missing to see the power query up there?

    • Hi Vijetha,

      Power Query is included in Excel 2016 for Windows. You do not need to install it. It is on the Data tab of the ribbon in the Get & Transform section. There is nothing that calls it Power Query in Excel anymore, which makes it very confusing. I have a screenshot on this page above on where to find it.

      Thanks!

  • Hi,

    I installed Power Query in Excel 2013 version.
    I wish to use this to pull reports from Salesforce.com
    however power query is showing option to facebook but no link to salesforce.com.

    any suggestions how can I connect to salesforce is hisgly appreciated.

    Thanks, Vaibhav

  • I’m a Salesforce admin, and I recently installed this for myself and it is so cool! But when one of my users installed it, she does not see the same list of sources as I do. Specifically, she does not have “Salesforce” as an option.

    Do you know what Salesforce permissions might be needed in this case?

  • i am having issues installing the power query it keeps telling me to close all excel applications even after i have closed my excel. my office is 32 bit and i am trying to install a 32 bit power query as well.

    • Hi Joseph,
      You might have to close Outlook and any other Office applications as well. If that doesn’t work then I would try restarting the computer, then try again. Sometimes the applications can get hung up in the background. I hope that helps.

  • Hey,
    Sub: No Query option from Salesforce Objects and Reports in Excel 2016.

    I realize that there is nothing called “power query” in Excel 2016,
    And it is under the Data Tab and it is called “Get and Transform”.
    I want to use Query from Saleforce objects and Reports.
    The Microsoft Websites show screenshots of the option being there in “Get and Transform”. See the first image in the link mentioned below.
    https://blogs.office.com/2015/09/10/integrating-power-query-technology-in-excel-2016/
    But i have installed the Enterprise Edition of Office 365 and i don’t see that option. I have attached a link containing the Screenshot of what i see in my excel 2016.
    http://oi68.tinypic.com/ae31oz.jpg

    Please Help me regarding this.
    Another forum with this issue unresolved.
    https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/office/en-US/64c44b3a-d1f5-4972-b465-ef6b9dd27299/excel-2016-16063662036-can-no-longer-query-from-salesforce?forum=excel

    Thank You

  • Hello,

    Quite new to the coding environment, my objective is to understand how can I get data into a excel file via Social Studio API (part of salesforce).

    My objective is to create monthly social media report and would like the data to come directly into an excel sheet and from there be able to do the different graphs I need to. However I am completely lost as to how to proceed. I thought that I could use Power query once I got access to Social Studio API and that I get an activation key and password?

    What is your recommendation?

    Thank you

  • I work with Excel 2013 and installed the Power Query add-on – running on Windows7 Prof 64bit. I tried to connect to my Oracle database (using my database login credentials) but keep getting the below error message. BTW, I already have the basic Oracle client (v11) installed and tested connection to this database via Oracle SQL Developer with no problem – I have the proper permissions.

    Unable to Connect
    We encountered an error while trying to connect.
    Details: “”

    Are there any specific configurations that need to be done in Excel or Windows? What am I doing wrong?

    Thanks!
    Ellen

  • Hi,
    I have just installed Power Query om Excel 2013 32bits and i’m having the following message:

    “Unhandled exception has occurred in a component in your application. If you click Continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue.
    Could not load the file or assembly “Microsoft Office Interop Excel. Version=14.0.0.0 Culture = Neutral,
    PublicKey Token=71e9bce111e9429c’ or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified”

    Of course the Query doesn’t appear in my Excel tabs.
    Could you please help me to resolve the problem….

    In advance thanks.

  • Hello, i am testing Powerquery. I want to get some information from a website. That website contain JSON information. I autorise my self and connect online to a database. For example i get the departments overview from the database in the website (json).

    I got a api code, that i can use in a website and a token key. In Excel i go to powerser query and start ‘from website’. I enter the website en than i choise for Web-api. I select the correct level and that i enter a key, ..but the key value is wrong? Why? Can Excel Power Query not handle import from a website wo have a autorisation?

  • Hello,
    I’m with Excel 2010. Using Power Query a lot.
    Yesterday, while working with PQ, I had a crash (memory exception).
    Since, I’ve lost Power Query.
    It does show in the Add-Ins window, I can check the checkbox, but it doesn’t save it checked.
    I’ve tried uninstalling, repair of office, reinstall, rebooting several times …
    Something has gone corrupt.
    Your kind assistance is appreciated!

    • Hi Michel,
      That sounds frustrating. I’m not sure of a solution on that one. You might want to post in the Microsoft forums and see if anyone has a solution.

  • What is the difference between Excel Professional 2010 and Excel Professional Plus 2010? Another website indicates that there are only 2 versions (Standard and Professional Plus), but my software indicates that it is Microsoft Office Professional 2010 – no mention of “plus”. Will it be possible to download/use power query with this version?

    • Hi Elmarie,
      I am not exactly sure what the differences are. I would just try to download and install Power Query and see if it works. I have heard that some users are able to use it on any version of 2010, but not sure if that is true. Post back and let me know if it does work for you. Thanks!

  • Hello Jon,

    I don’t see the date wrote this article. I just purchase the 2016 version Excel for mac but I cannot find Power Query. Could you tell me please if it’s still not available ?

    Many thanks for all your great works

  • Hi Jon
    I am unsure if I am following correctly about how power query is applied. I have a csv file that we want to change the name of the headings (field names) so we can import the file into other software. My thinking was that we setup a power query to rename the field names, save the power query, and apply it to another csv file. I noticed that we can name a query but not sure how we recall that query to another csv file to apply it to that file.

    Can I do this and if so, how do I recall a query and apply it to another file?

    Thanks
    Andrew

    • Hi Andrew,
      Great question! The easiest way would be to duplicate the existing Query (right-click on the query in the Query Panes, then select Duplicate), then change the link to the source data file in the first step. When you hit close and load this will create a new sheet with the data from the new CSV file.

      If you don’t want to create a new table, then you could just change the source file path in the existing query.

      Here is an article on an overview of Power Query if you are just getting started with it.

  • I have installed Power Query for the purpose of pulling data from Active Directory. However, after installing and going to “From Other Sources”, Active Directory is not an option. How to I acquire it?

  • Hi,

    I tried to import data from a MySQL Database in Power Query.
    After I entered the server and the database, I found out that it was impossible.
    It said:
    Unable to Connect
    We encountered an error while trying to connect.
    Details: “MySQL: We were unable to find a database provider with invariant name ‘MySql.Data.MySqlClient’.
    This error could’ve been the result of provider-specific client software being required, but missing on this computer. To download client software for this provider, visit the following site and choose the 32-bit (x86) version of, at minimum, ‘MySQL Connector/Net’: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=278885

    In fact, I’ve already downloaded that.
    What should I do now?

    • Hi Thomas,
      Sorry, I don’t have much experience with MySQL databases. You might want to try posting this question in the Microsoft Answers Forum. I hope you find a solution. Thanks!

  • This is sooo frustrating.
    I removed the Power Query add-in in Excel.
    I downloaded the new version and installed it.
    The Power Query just doesn’t appear in my Excel!
    I have Windows 10 with Excel 2013 (32-bit)
    I’ve tried uninstalling PQ and install it again.
    Some sites give advice on changing the Registry key Behavior to 3.

    Nothing, absolutely nothing.

    I’m sure I’m not the only one with this problem. How frustrating.

  • Hi there,I’m trying to install PowerQuery_2.36.4434.1001 (32-bit) [en-us].msi, but I’m getting an error message stating that power query requires MS Excel SP1 or MS Excel 2013. I already have MS Excel installed so I don’t know what to do.

    System information:

    WINDOWS 7 ENTERPRISE 64BIT
    MS OFFICE PRO PLUS 2010 32BIT

    Please help!

  • Hi There,

    We are using Excel 2016 in our machine.
    Our goal is to connect to SAP BO universe using power query in Excel 2016.

    From few links in google, I could find that, Power Query is included with Excel 2016. It has been renamed and is now on the Data tab of the Ribbon in the Get & Transform section.

    But when opening the Get & Transform section option, I am unable to fine the source SAP BO universe. Could you please help me regarding this.

    Regards,
    Naresh

  • Hi Jon,

    First, thank you for this very helpful tutorial. I have a problem I am unable to solve by looking online and to the microsoft guide : I am currently using EXCEL 2013 (32-bit) at Work with WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONNAL. I have successfully downloaded Power Query and the tab is displayed in the EXCEL ribbon. I also went to the COM Add-ins option from the Manage drop-down to re-enable the tab.

    I want to access data from a hadoop file system (HDFS). My problem is that when I click on the Power Query tab and select the “From Other Sources” button to import data, I don’t have the option “From Haddop File (HDFS)”

    (I only have three choices displayed when selecting this “From Other Sources” button : “Blank Query”, “from ODBC” and “from OData feed” when I should have at least 7 more choices).

    I tried uninstalling and re-installing the add-in but the result was the same.

    Thank you in advance for your time.

  • Hi Jon,

    I am currently using Excel 2010 32 bit with 32 bit PowerQuery (obviously lol). I am trying to append two text files, one over 880k rows and one 70k rows. Unfortunately I am getting the error “not enough system memory” (my PC is like 10 years old).

    Performance wise, is the 64 bit Excel with 64 bit Power Query the answer to my problem? I am trying to decide whether to get 64 bit or upgrade my PC (or both would be nice!).

    Regards,
    Mark.

    • Hi Mark,

      I believe the short answer is that 64-bit will help, along with additional memory on a newer computer. I cannot promise that this will solve your issue, but performance should be significantly enhanced on 64-bit. I hope that helps. Thanks!

  • How to connect to Oracle 12c database using power query. New Query > From Database > is not displaying oracle option.

  • Hi Jon,

    I am using the Query-feature in Excel 2016 to import data from a Forex page. There ist something, I just can`t understand:

    Trying to download a table about currencies on
    https://eu.iqoption.com/de/historical-financial-quotes?active_id=1&tz_offset=60&date=2017-1-1-0-6

    Most tables from this page work fine, but this one doesn’t, allthough it is completely the same size and style as the others. Keep getting the message, that “column 1 of the table was not found”. Refresh does not help.

    Do you have any experience with that kind of problem

    Thank you,

    Marlon

    • Hi Marlon,
      Sorry, I’m not able to see the page. It’s not available in my country… The table must use HTML Table code for it to be recognized by Power Query. Hopefully they will expand this to other types of HTML tables (divs) in the future.

  • Hi Jon,
    I am wanting to install the updates for Power Query, but on the MS site the button in Excel takes you to doesn’t have a download button – just a summary of what’s in the update. Do I need to download the whole power query app again? If so, do I need to uninstall the old one? I am running Windows 7 SP1 / MS Office 2013.
    Thank you for your assistance!

  • Thank you Jon for having this website. I am using Excel 2016. I can load the tables into the query editor, but when I try to create a merge, the drop down box for the type of merge is not there. There is only a box that I can check if I want to do an inner join. What I need is a left outer join. Any thoughts?
    Thank you

  • Jon, in your opinion, would you expect Microsoft to expand Power Query and Power Pivot to the Mac version at any point in the near future (or any future, for that matter)?

    • Hi Ismel,
      Unfortunately I don’t know the answer to that question. You can vote for these features on the Excel Uservoice site though. Here is a link to the page.

      Add support for Power Components (Power Pivot, Query, Map, etc.) – Welcome to Excel’s Suggestion Box!

      It’s the number 1 requested feature for the Mac version there.

      I would say that the Mac version is probably always going to be behind the Windows version. That’s just my opinion, but probably reality for at least the near future.

      A lot of people run Parallels or Bootcamp on the Mac to run Windows and the Windows version of Excel. I’ve done this in the past on a Mac we had at home and it works great.

      I hope that helps.

  • Hello John,
    I downloaded the PowerQuery_2.49.4831.381 (32-bit) [en-us] (1) and it is compatible according to my system 32 bit
    but when i tried to run it it is giving me an error
    another installation is in progress you must complete the installation before continue one
    even in my system there is no installation is in process even i restart it
    please tell me the reason