Are your formulas not copying down on Microsoft Excel?
Besides organizing and analyzing data, we can also do complex mathematical equations in Microsoft Excel. With this, we can compute salaries, average time, and various problems that need fast computations.
In simpler terms, formulas in Excel are equations that can be called out to perform calculations, return information, and manipulate the contents of cells, test conditions, and more.
Formulas in Excel can also be copied to other cells for a faster work process.
Sadly, the copy feature for formulas isn’t working correctly for some Microsoft Excel users. Based on the reports, the formulas on their worksheet are not copying down on other cells.
Due to this, users are forced to manually input formulas from one cell to another. While this isn’t that complicated, it can slow down your work process and consume more time.
Luckily, this issue can be easily fixed with a few steps.
In this guide, we will show you exactly what to do if your formulas are not copying down on Microsoft Excel.
Let’s begin!
1. Restart Microsoft Excel.
Whenever you encounter issues, or some features are not working on Excel, we always advise that you restart your computer first. This should flush out temporary files in your system and resolve minor issues.
Follow the steps below to restart your computer:
- First, press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu.
- After that, access the Power Options tab.
- Lastly, choose Restart and wait for your system to reboot.
Go back to Microsoft Excel afterward and check if the problem is solved.
2. Enable Automatic Calculation.
If cells are not returning any result after copying your formulas, it’s possible that automatic calculation is not enabled on Microsoft Excel.
Check out the steps below to ensure that the feature is active:
- On your worksheet, go to the Formula tab in the menu bar.
- Next, click on Calculation Options.
- Lastly, choose Automatic.
Once done, go back to your worksheet and check if the problem is solved.
3. Change Auto Correct Option.
Microsoft Excel has an auto-correct feature that automatically checks your worksheet for misspelled words. However, this can also check if you’ve called out formulas the wrong way and automatically corrects them.
If your formulas are not copying down on Excel, try to check your auto correct options:
- In Microsoft Excel, go to the File tab and click on Options.
- Now, access the Proofing tab.
- After that, click on AutoCorrect Options and open the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
- Finally, enable the ‘Fill formulas in tables to create calculated columns’ option and save the changes.
Return to your worksheet afterward and check if your formulas are now getting copied.
4. Update Microsoft Excel.
The version of Microsoft Excel you are using might have an underlying issue that is related to formulas. To rule this out, we recommend updating your software to the latest version to patch bugs and glitches.
Check out the guide below to update Excel:
- First, launch Microsoft Excel on your computer.
- After that, click on File > Accounts.
- Lastly, access the Update Options tab and click on Update Now or Enable Updates.
Restart your system to apply the changes and see if your formulas work.
5. Enable the Fill Handle.
The fill handle in Microsoft Excel is what allows users to copy data from one cell to another. If this feature is not enabled on your worksheet, don’t expect that you can copy formulas conveniently.
See the steps below to enable the fill handle:
- First, open Microsoft Excel on your computer.
- Access your workbook and navigate to File > More > Options.
- Now, go to the Advanced tab.
- Lastly, look for Editing Options and ensure that the ‘Enable Fill Handle and Cell Drag-and-Drop’ option is marked checked.
Save the changes and go back to your worksheet. Try copying your formulas again to check if the issue is solved.
That brings us to the end of our guide for fixing formulas that are not copying down on Excel. For your questions and other concerns, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them.
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