Google Sheets simplifies large data management, especially when you share spreadsheets with a team and need immediate information. From formulas toscraping existing data online, Google’s spreadsheet merges the best parts of existing software into an approachable, web-based solution. Because it’s a web platform, the risk of losing your work is mitigated. You can access your sheets from Android phones,Samsung tablets, or on a desktop.
Sheets can become complex, and, like any powerful software, there are potential failure points. We collected the common issues and spelled out how to resolve them.
Google Sheets problems by category
While the online nature of Sheets means it has advantages, it’s also vulnerable to pitfalls that offline software isn’t. An unstable internet connection or a browser cache filled with unnecessary data can introduce problems that standalone software doesn’t encounter. These are common reasons for some of Sheets' stumbling blocks.
Below are examples of issues you may come across in your Sheets spreadsheets:
Many of these issues stem from connectivity problems, and most can be solved by troubleshooting your internet connection and reloading the spreadsheet. Here are easy and effective ways to ensure your connection and browser play nicely with Sheets.
Check your internet connection
Sheets is a cloud-based platform that typically relies on an internet connection for most of its functionality. If youmirror your files, they remain available even without an internet connection, but you lose access to some Sheets features and the data security of cloud storage.
If your spreadsheets don’t load or are slow, make sure your internet connection is stable before refreshing the page. If that doesn’t work, switch to a different network or switch from Wi-Fi to a wired Ethernet connection. You can also findWi-Fi passwords on your phoneif you previously connected to the network.
Many users connected to the same Wi-Fi network can impact the connection quality. You may have to cut them off to work efficiently in Sheets. A less drastic measure involves repositioning your Wi-Fi router in an uncluttered room. Doing that prevents interference from electrical appliances that can impact the signal. When using Sheets on your phone, move to another position.
In the worst-case scenario,reset your network settingsif you frequently experience difficulty connecting to Wi-Fi networks. If you suspect your ISP is throttling your internet connection, consider using a VPN, such as theGoogle One VPN service.
Use a different browser
Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari arethe best browsersfor accessing Google Sheets andother Workspace apps. You may be unable to test its full features if you use any browser outside these selections. If Sheets doesn’t work on your default browser, try another one.
Also, activate cookies and JavaScript. Cookies keep you signed in to your accounts and remember your settings or preferences. JavaScript allows dynamic features and interactions to run smoothly.
Clear cache and cookies
Your browser cache is the place on your hard drive where your device stores images, fonts, HTML code, and other files or data to speed up the load time of the web pages you visit. This way, instead of downloading those assets when you point your browser to a site, they’re available locally.
A cache differs from cookies, which track your browsing history, logins, site preferences, and other user data.
Emptying the cache can resolve conflicts and other problems.Clearing the cache on Android, in Chrome, or another browser you use to access Sheets should be your first troubleshooting step if you consistently run into issues.
Clear hosted app data in Chrome
Hosted app data in Chrome refers to information that apps and extensions from the Chrome Web Store keep in your browser when you download and use them. The data could conflict with Sheets. Wiping it may resolve the issue if other solutions don’t work. You must perform this step on a computer, as the mobile app can’t clear hosted app data.
Remove third-party access
In 2021, The Verge reported their website downtime via Google Docs,but someone forgot to change the permissionsto view only. Soon after, people accessed the document and typed hilarious notes.
To avoid such mistakes, check the permissions for your spreadsheets before youshare and collaborate on them. In the wrong hands, people you transferred ownership of files and folders to can alter permissions and kick you out. Or worse, delete them permanently.
Check your Google account storage
You can’t create new documents or access existing ones when you reach your storage maximum. You’ll need to clear up space by deleting files you no longer need or upgrading to aGoogle One membership plan.
How to free Google Drive storage space
Get back your precious Google Drive space in no time
Reduce the size of your sheets
The more cells you use in Sheets, the slower the responsiveness of your spreadsheet. A basic computation that takes seconds to complete turns into minutes. To make your spreadsheet run faster, trim it down.Delete rows, columns, and cellsyou don’t need. If the data is too much for one spreadsheet, migrate entries to another spreadsheet.
Instead of using the traditional copy-and-paste method, try the IMPORTRANGE function. This function imports data from one spreadsheet to another and syncs them. This way, both spreadsheets are automatically updated. When you’re done, comb through your spreadsheet andremove duplicates.
Use the steps below to copy data into a new spreadsheet with IMPORTRANGE:
Make a copy of the spreadsheet
This method works for Google spreadsheets that refuse to open. You can duplicate the spreadsheet and continue from where you stopped on the new copy. The original copy still exists unless you delete it.
In browsers, you can’t make a copy of spreadsheets from the Sheets home menu. You’ll do it on the mobile app, as it provides the option to do so. Sheets doesn’t let you make multiple copies at once. You must repeat the procedure every time you want to duplicate a spreadsheet.
Other Google Sheets problems
User error can cause potential problems. Large and complex sheets using multiple formulas simultaneously can compound a simple typo into a waterfall of errors that can break an entire sheet. This applies to the data you enter into a formula and the formula’s construction. Here are some routine errors and how to avoid or correct them.
Formula parse errors
The app produces parse or syntax errors when youuse mathematical formulasthat Sheets doesn’t understand. These errors indicate that the formula couldn’t follow the order of operations the spreadsheet reads to understand the instructions. A misplaced punctuation mark, alphanumeric character, or space could be responsible.
Common Formula parse errors in Sheets include the following:
Google Sheets formulas don’t update
You may need to alter cell ranges in your formula. Sheets allows you to set your spreadsheet to update formulas automatically at defined intervals. If the feature doesn’t work, refresh the web page. If that doesn’t change anything, adjust the formula update settings with the steps below:
Circular dependency detected error
Circular dependency errors occur when you define a cell range that clashes with your formula’s cells. For example, when using the SUM function to calculate your income for the year in cells J28 to J33. You’ll place the=SUM(J28:J33)formula in cell J34, where the total amount will appear. If you make the mistake of typing the range as =SUM(J28:J34), it produces a #REF error because the formula is not supposed to enter the range you’re calculating. To solve this problem, move it to a cell that doesn’t fall within the specified range.
The find and replace tool doesn’t detect value matches
If you’re trying to find a value, and Sheets doesn’t find matching entries,search your spreadsheetfor blank spaces. Click the text box besideFindand press your keyboard’s space bar twice to enter a double space. Or, use the data cleanup feature to trim white spaces faster.
Google Sheets offers features for self-assistance
Google Sheets is a powerful, versatile tool available to anyone with reliable internet access. Because of its always-online nature, it’s prone to issues that connectivity-dependent software is vulnerable to. With the volume and complexity of the calculations that Sheets can compute, it’s easy to run into problems and errors.
When it works, it’s an incredible, time-saving tool. It’s one of the best ways to collate, organize, and share data across an organization. After ironing out the kinks, check outour favorite Google Sheets tips and tricksto make the most of what the platform offers.
