Convert formulas to values in Google Sheets
In this article, you will learn about two ways of replacing all formulas with their results in a spreadsheet.
Whether you need to transfer data between sheets or even spreadsheets, keep formulas from recalculating (for example, the RAND function), or simply speed up your spreadsheet performance, having the calculated values instead of their formulas will help.
Today I offer you two options to make this possible: the standard and the fastest.
Classic way to replace formulas with values in Google Sheets
Let's imagine you have a list of web pages and you use a special function to pull the domain names from those long links:
Now you need to switch all formulas to results instead. Here's what you can do:
- Highlight all cells you need to modify.
- Take all formulas to the clipboard by pressing Ctrl+C on your keyboard.
- Then press Ctrl+Shift+V to paste back the values only:
Tip. Ctrl+Shift+V is the Google Sheets shortcut for Paste values only (right-click a cell > Paste special > Paste values only).
The quickest way to convert formulas to values in your spreadsheet
If you'd rather avoid stumbling over incorrect buttons, we've got you covered. Our Power Tools – a collection of 30+ add-ons for Google Sheets – contains a perfect assistant.
- Run the collection from Add-ons > Power Tools > Start and click the Formulas icon:
Tip. To run the Formulas tool right away, go to Add-ons > Power Tools > Formulas. - Select all cells you want to alter and choose Convert formulas to values:
- Hit Run and voila – all formulas are replaced in a click:
Tip. You can repeat this action even quicker from the main Power Tools window.Once you convert formulas to values, this action will appear in the Recent tools tab at the bottom of the main window. Click there to run the tool again or star it to add it to your Favorite tools for future use:
I highly recommend you to try other add-ons from Power Tools: 5 minutes saved here and 15 there may become a game changer in your work efficiency.
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24 responses to "Convert formulas to values in Google Sheets"
Hi. Is there a way to convert formulas to values automatically when data is entered for the first time rather than having to manually copy and paste or run power tool? Thanks in advance.
Hi Claire,
I'm afraid our tools cannot be run automatically. You need to start Power Tools whenever you want to convert formulas to values.
However, there's a way to do that faster.
Once you go through Convert formulas to values, return to the main Power Tools window where there are Recent and Favorite tools at the bottom. Recent tools will feature the last action - Convert formula to value.
Hover the mouse over it and when the star icon appears, click on it. The operation will be added to the Favorite tools tab.
The next time you run the add-on, just initiate the conversion in one click from that tab.
Hope this will ease your task.
Hi Claire,
I have a VLOOKUP that returns a value from another spreadsheet (not tab) if a matching value to the VLOOKUP exists. Pretty standard.
However; if no match exists the result is the cell gets filled in with #N/A
This pretty much ruins my ability to perform any more calculations on that column.
So, do you know of a way to change #N/A to a number?
If not, can we stop the result from displaying #N/A?
If not, is there a way to create and if statement using VLOOKUP as the logical_expression in an if statement and as the value if true and using "0" if false?
I love the powertools! great for repeating tasks and quick hits.
Rich
Hi Richard,
You will find ways of replacing VLOOKUP errors with your own text/number in this article:
https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins-blog/2018/05/17/fix-vlookup-errors-google-sheets/#hide-errors
Thank you for your feedback on Power Tools! :) We'd appreciate if you could leave it in the store as well:
https://gsuite.google.com/marketplace/app/power_tools/1058867473888
You can use "IFERROR" condition;
IFERROR(VLOOKUP formula),value if FALSE
Exmple: =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A1,G:H,2,false),0)
Another way to accomplish this is found here:.
Copy the data, right click > paste special > paste values only.
Hello Brady,
I actually described this way in the first paragraph, only using hotkeys to make it quicker. Please take a closer look: Classic way to replace formulas with values in Google Sheets
Hi
Is there a way to have a formula that calculates a value but after a particular date or time is then fixed
So even if you change the values in the cells it is using to calculate a figure then this will no longer effect that figure?
Is it also possible to have a formula that does not start calculating until a particular date or time?
Hi Peggy,
I'm sorry but your first question is not clear. If you could describe it in more detail, maybe with examples, it would help.
As for the second one, yes, you can create the IF formula to check the date first and then either return the result of your required calculation or keep a cell empty.
Hi Natalia,
I have shared a sample google sheet with support@apps4gs.com where I need to change a formula to text.
I have already spoken to Katerina over the phone but the PowerTools were not successful in removing the = sign on the cells.
Please let me know the best way to do so.
Thanks!
Hi Howard,
Thank you for sharing the file. When you search for '=' in formulas with our Advanced Find and Replace, it doesn't remove the sign from the beginning. You see, the equal sign is often used as a comparison operator further in the formula. If we remove/replace the first one as well, it will break all formulas whatsoever. I will forward this idea to our developers and we'll try to find a better solution.
In the meantime, there is a workaround. I added a few columns to your table to illustrate it step-by-step:
=IFERROR(G2,FORMULATEXT(G2))
If there are formulas with errors, the content of the formula will be pulled (as in H4:H9), otherwise the number itself (H2:H3).
If the number of characters in cells is always the same, on this step you can use Remove the first N characters instead to delete everything before numbers right away.
I included the screenshots of all the options I used right under the columns.
Hope this workaround will be helpful.
This feature is not working for me. Maybe it's because it's 36527 Rows and 10 Columns but it keeps giving me an error in Russian.
It might be important to note that I have 10 sheets in this project structured exactly like it, ~3.6 million cells. But I'm only working with one sheet at a time.
Here's the error.
"
Something went wrong
Сервис "Таблицы" слишком долго не может получить доступ к документу 19PDLgQOARSjFdgsTLxD5dyrl5Usg8LYgr8jxtWoZR20.
If you see this error again,
please contact us
"
Hello,
Thank you for reporting this problem to us. I apologize for the late reply.
Please note that our add-ons don't impose any limitations to the number of cells they process.
If you're still getting this error, please send its screenshot to us – support@ablebits.com
Also, when you see the error, press F12 (or Ctrl+Shift+I) on your keyboard (Cmd+alt+J or Cmd+opt+J if you have a Mac) and go to the Console tab. Copy the last 15-20 lines and send them in that email as well.
All this info will help us understand the cause of the problem. Thank you!
Hi, is there a way to cut and paste values only?
Hi Jet,
Have you tried the ways described in this blog post? If they don't work for you, then please describe your task in detail, I'll try to suggest a solution.
I'd like to convert all formulas to values in any row in which the status cell shows as 'closed' (I have a drop down with 'open' and 'closed' as options). How might I do that?
Hello Rikky,
I'd suggest you filter the table by the status column first, and then use the classic way to replace formulas with values. The second one, I'm afraid, will process filtered rows as well.
Hi there, Ctrl+C ; Ctrl+Shift+V allows to get rid of the formula, thus not having it changed dynamically. However, it doesn't keep the data the way it is. As an example, typing in any date in A1, then typing in A2 "=A1", return in A2 A1's date as date in A2, but then, using Ctrl+C ; Ctrl+Shift+V on cell A2 return A1's date but as a string (44402 for example).
How can I get rid of the formula, but keep the formatting ???
Thank you for your answer
Loïc
Hello Loïc,
Ctrl+Shift+V doesn't save the format, it is used to paste the values only. You need to copy and paste the format from A1 afterwards: use Ctrl+Alt+V for that. Or use the Paint Format tool (the paint roller icon in the toolbar) to copy and apply the format.
Thank you for your quick reply.
I understand that I have to do it in two steps, right ?
Thank you, it works perfectly!
You're most welcome, Loïc! :)
Yes, first – copy-paste the dates, then – apply the formatting.