Microsoft’s Excel Exchange Connector Retirement Could Disrupt Power Query Workbooks

Microsoft is getting ready to replace the existing Microsoft Exchange connector in Excel Power Query with new Exchange Mail and Exchange Calendar connectors. This change is tied to the ongoing retirement of Exchange Web Services (EWS), which Exchange Online will begin enforcing from October 2026.

Many organizations still use Excel Power Query workbooks that rely on the legacy Microsoft Exchange connector, which is built on Exchange Web Services (EWS). As Microsoft retires EWS from Exchange Online, those existing connections will eventually lose support, which creates a risk that Excel workbooks used for reporting, analysis, or automation could stop retrieving email and calendar data unless they are updated.

New Exchange Mail and Calendar connectors arriving soon

To prevent disruptions, Microsoft is replacing the old connector with new Exchange Mail and Calendar connectors. The company will begin customer validation and early adopter testing in August 2026, followed by the final phase of EWS retirement enforcement in October 2026. The existing Microsoft Exchange connector in Excel Power Query is scheduled to be retired in April 2027.

“The new connector experience will be available in Microsoft 365 Apps and Office 2024. Versions earlier than Office 2024 will not receive the new connector experience. Customers using earlier Office versions will need to upgrade to Microsoft 365 Apps or Office 2024 to use the new Exchange Mail and Exchange Calendar connectors,” the company explained on the Microsoft 365 admin center.

What IT teams need to know about the Exchange Connector changes

Organizations should begin preparing before the retirement deadline by identifying Excel workbooks that use the current Exchange connector and determining which users depend on them for reporting, analytics, or business processes. Microsoft urges workbook owners to develop a migration plan, test critical workbooks, and ensure that affected users understand the upcoming changes.

Microsoft advises that IT teams should review their Office deployment strategy and confirm that users who rely on Exchange-connected workbooks are running Microsoft 365 Apps or Office 2024. It’s also recommended to review Exchange Web Services (EWS) usage, evaluate any applications that may require temporary allow-listing during the transition, and consider participation in Microsoft’s validation program to test the new connectors before their broader deployment.