How to Connect Excel to a SQL Database (And Stop Pasting)
By Michael Nocito , data analyst · Published August 8, 2026 By the end of this page your spreadsheet will pull its numbers straight from a database, so next month's report is one Refresh All instead of an export, a paste, and a silent prayer that you pasted into the right columns. The path is Data, then Get Data, then From Database , and the rest of this page is the parts that go wrong after…
Connecting Excel to a SQL database allows for real-time updates, eliminating the need for manual pasting and potential errors. Excel's Power Query tool records the entire data extraction process, enabling easy replication and consistent results. To establish a connection, navigate to Data, then Get Data, and select From Database.
For SQL Server, enter the server name and, if necessary, database credentials. Choose From Database, specify the server and database, and select a Windows or user account for authentication. The Navigator then displays the available tables and views, from which you can preview and select the desired one. Load the chosen table into a new worksheet, or apply data transformations using the Power Query editor.
Save the query as a connection to access updated data automatically in the future. SQLite may not appear in the database connectors, but can be accessed using the ODBC route.
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