Link broken in excel

If your workbook contains a link to data in a workbook or other file that was moved to another location, you can fix the link by updating the path of that source file. If you can’t find or don’t have access to the document that you originally linked to, you can prevent Excel from trying to update the link by turning off automatic updates or removing the link.

Important: 
linked object are not the same as hyperlinks. The following procedure will not fix broken hyperlinks. To learn more about hyperlinks, see Create or edit a hyperlink.

Fix a broken link

Caution: This action can’t be undone. You might want to save a backup copy of the workbook before you begin this procedure.

1. Open the workbook that contains the broken link.

2. On the Data tab, click Edit Links.

   The Edit Links command is unavailable if your workbook doesn’t contain links.

3. In the Source file box, select the broken link that you want to fix.

   Note: To fix multiple links, hold down , and then click each link.

4. Click Change Source.

5. Browse to the location of the file containing the linked data.

6. Select the new source file, and then click Change Source.

7. Click Close.

Remove a broken link

When you break a link, all formulas that refer to the source file are converted to their current value. For example, if the formula =SUM([Budget.xls]Annual!C10:C25) results in 45, the formula would be converted to 45 after the link is broken.

1. Open the workbook that contains the broken link.

2. On the Data tab, click Edit Links.

   The Edit Links command is unavailable if your workbook doesn’t contain links.

3. In the Source file box, select the broken link that you want to delete.

   Note: To remove multiple links, hold down , and then click each link.

4. Click Break Link.

5. Click Close.

See also

Import data from a CSV, HTML, or text file

While working on the Excel sheet, it is common to find some of the broken links in the data. However, it happens due to various unforeseen reasons and hence, it should be fixed ASAP. In this optimized post, you are going to learn how to find broken links in Excel and how to fix Excel broken links with less effort.

Ways to Find Broken Links in Excel	Step-By-Step Solutions Guide
Method 1: Using Find And Replace Method	Open your Excel sheet >> press CTRL + F to open the Find and Replace dialog box…Complete Steps
Method 2: Through Cell Relationship Diagram	From the menu bar choose the Files > Options tab…Complete Steps
Method 3: Using Excel VBA	For using the code, you have to add a reference Microsoft XML V3…Complete Steps
Method 4: Using Edit Links Command	Open your Excel sheet >> go to the Data ribbon >> select Edit Links…Complete Steps

Those who don’t know what breaking links in Excel are or what causes this problem in detail, they can simply check out the below subtopics.

What Is Breaking Links In Excel?

Excel sheet cells are often linked with several different files that are having relevant data like formulas, codes, etc. for one or many reasons. When these source files are gets deleted, relocated, removed, or corrupted then the link related to a specific workbook cell will automatically break down.

After that these broken links can’t perform the targeted function anymore.

Method 1- Using Find And Replace Method

The easiest way to find Excel broken links is by using the Find and Replace method of Excel.

When the link is created with the source file each worksheet cell obtains a unique file extension. This extension signifies that the source file is linked with that respective cell.

So when the source file is relocated or deleted from the device then the worksheet starts troubling you with the broken link issue.

Follow the below-given steps to find broken links in Excel:

• First of all, open your Excel sheet which is showing broken link issues.
• After that press the Ctrl+F button from your keyboard. This will open the Find and Replace dialog box.

• In the opened dialog box of find and replace go to the Find what box. Here you have to enter your respective file extension which is linked with the cell.
• Now in the “within” box option, choose the option “Workbook”.
• After that in the box of Look in you have to choose the “Formulas” option.
• At last press the find all button.

After performing these steps, you will easily get Excel broken links.

Now you have to replace the problem having a link with the functional or correct new link.

Also read: 8 Tricks to Fix Excel Break Links Not Working

Method 2- Through Cell Relationship Diagram

Excel Cell relationship diagram is mainly used to elaborate links association of any particular worksheet cells with other cells, worksheets, or any workbook.

To find the broken links using the cell relationship diagram, you need to add a specific add-in within your Excel workbook. After then only the cell relationship diagram will show you the cell link-up detail.

Here are the steps to find broken links in Excel using the cell relationship diagram:

•  From the menu bar choose the Files > Options tab.
•  In the opened window of Excel options hit the Add-ins tab.

• Now from the drop-down choose the COM add-in and press the ok button. In the opened com Add-in dialog box choose the “Inquire”.

• After that, you will see that the tab of Inquire will get added in the Excel Ribbon.

• From the diagram group, you have to choose Cell Relationship.
• The next window of the cell relationship diagram will appear on the screen.
• Choose the options as per your desire from the opened dialog box and then press the OK button.
• Very soon you will see the diagram will start appearing on your Excel screen.
• You can zoom in to see the links between one cell to another cell, or one cell to another worksheet.
• Here you will see the entire cell relationship diagram having all the included links. In this diagram, you can also check the broken links present in your Excel workbook.

I found this method as the best way to find the cell having the broken Excel links.

Method 3- Using Excel VBA

Another method to find Excel broken links is by using the Excel VBA. In this method, we will use the massive code to track the broken link related to any Excel workbook cell.

You can also restore the return value of the accessing source links to find whether links are actually broken or not.

For using the code, you have to add a reference Microsoft XML V3:

Using the above-given code you can easily track the broken link detail of any worksheet cell.

Also Read: How To Fix Excel Error “We Can’t Update Some Of The Links”?

Method 4- Using Edit Links Command

Apart from the above three effective methods, there is another yet option to find broken links in Excel cells which is to use the edit links command.

Here is how you can do so:

• Open your Excel sheet that contains broken links >> go to the Data ribbon then select Edit Links. Now, a dialog box will seem on your screen.

• In a Source tab, you will find all workbooks associated with the cells in your current workbook.
• After this, press on Check Status which you can see on the right side.

• Here, if the status is showing ‘Source is open’, it simply means that a consistent workbook is active & open it right now.
• After that, click on the option “Change Sources.”
• Now, a File Browser gets opens up.

• Choose a source file of a consistent workbook >> press OK.
• At this time, click on the option Check Status again & now you will see no error under a Status bar which is in an Edit Links dialogbox.

What Causes Broken Links in Excel?

Important:

Always keep in mind that Linked objects are completely different from hyperlinks. So, the following procedure won’t help you to fix broken hyperlinks in Excel.

 Main there are two possible reasons associated with broken links problems in Excel:

• The source folder is get deleted: After the deletion of the source folder, it’s impossible to track data that is linked with the cell.
• Files/folders shifted to another location: This Excel broken link issue also arises when the location of the linked file or folder is relocated.

How To Fix Broken Links In Excel?

Caution: This step can’t be reversed, so it will be better if you keep the backup copy of your Excel workbook before starting up the procedure.

• Open your Excel workbook having the broken link issue.
• Go to the Data tab and tap to the Edit Links option. If you won’t get the Edit Links option then it means your workbook doesn’t contain any links.
• Now from the Source file box, choose the broken link which you need to fix off.
• Hit the Change Source option.
• Search the location of the Excel file having the source of your linked data.
• Now choose the new source file and hit the Change Source option.
• Tap to the Close option.

How To Remove Broken Link In Excel?

When you break any link in Excel, all the formula referring to that particular source file automatically gets converted to its current value. Suppose, if you have used the formula =SUM([Budget.xls]Annual!C10:C25) and your result is 45 then your formula will get converted to 45 after breaking the link.

Follow the below steps for how to remove broken links in Excel:

• Open the Excel workbook showing the broken link.
• Now go to the Data tab, hit the Edit Links button.
• Within the Source file box, choose the broken link which you need to remove.

• Hit the Break Link button.
• Tap to the Close option.

Also Read: 3 Ways To Fix Excel Hyperlinks Not Working Problem

How to Repair Corrupt Excel File?

If somehow your Excel file gets corrupted then you can use the best & recommended Excel File Repair Tool. It has the ability to repair & recover corrupted, or inaccessible Excel files.

Even though it can solve different Excel-related issues & errors and restore entire data such as charts, worksheet properties cell comments, etc.

* Free version of the product only previews recoverable data.

So, once download this tool on your PC and follow the below steps to know how to repair corrupt Excel files easily.

Wrap Up:

If your Excel workbook is having a link with the data present in a workbook or any other file which is moved to another location. In that case, you can fix Excel broken link issue by updating the source file location in the linked cell.

But if in case you won’t find the source file then immediately stop Excel to update the link and permanently remove that link.

When we work with several excel files and use formula to get the work done, we intentionally or unintentionally create links between different files. Normal formula links can be easily broken by using break links option.

When we break links between two files, the values that were dynamically pulled by linked file become static. And this is what we want.  But some times the break links option doesn’t work properly. For such cases, we have this article. This article can help you if you have problem breaking links in Excel file.

Break Links Between Files Effectively

Now if you are working with multiple files and your final file has links to other files that you don’t want to keep, just follow these steps:

Go to Data —> Edit Links. Here you will see all the links to the file. Select the link and click on the break links option.

This should break the link to selected file.

Now sometimes it happens that the break link button is dimmed out and does not work. And sometimes the break link option button is working but id does not break links. Let’s see each case and solve them.

1. Break links button is dimmed out

Sometimes when you click on the edit links menu for breaking the links between the excel files, the break links button gets dimmed out and becomes non functional. It happens when the sheet or the workbook is protected. You need to unprotect the sheet or the workbook.

Go to Review and click on the button unprotect sheet.

It is possible that the sheet is protected using a password. You will need to enter that password. Once the sheet is unprotected, the button for breaking the link will be functional.

This was an usual case. There are some unusual cases of breaking links that does not seem to work properly.

2. Breaking link dialog box pops up every time workbook is opened.

Now this is an rare case but annoying one. Sometimes we break the links to the source file but when reopen the file main file, it again shows the break link dialog box. The links are not actually removed.

It happens when the file has data validations linked to other files. Normal link breaking does work on these. In such cases do this.

1. First Duplicate the file and save it. Now start working on the duplicate file so that your main file is safe.

2. Check the data validation if they contain links to external files. Remove them.

2. Similarly check the conditional formatting formulas you have used. If they contain links to external files then remove them to. Make these conditional formatting local.

3. Check Chart  series ranges. If they contain ranges from different workbook, remove them. Do check the headers. We often link the headers to a cell.

4. Check the named ranges used from different workbook. This is a rare one. But to be on the safe side check for the named ranges if they contain range from external file. Remove or amend them to suit you.

When you have checked all these. Try again to remove the links and save the duplicate file. I am sure that all the external links that you wanted to remove, will be removed from the main file

I hope this was helpful. If you have any doubts regarding this topic or any other Excel/VBA related topic, ask me in the comments section below. Till than keep excelling.

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When you copy cells or worksheets from another Excel workbook, links to other worksheets in many cases still persists. Excel offers a function to break links but this function only works with links within formulas. There are many other types of links as links within conditional formatting rules or data validation rules. The bad news: Those links can’t be cut easily. The good news: there are still ways to break these links.

Break ‘normal’ workbook links within formulas

Usually, “normal” workbook links within formulas can be cut easily with the ‘Edit Links’ function included in Excel (the numbers are corresponding with the picture on the right hand side):

1. Go to the Data ribbon.
2. If the “Edit Links” button is not greyed out it means that there is at least one active link to another data source (usually another workbook). Click on that button.
3. Select all the data links you’d like to kill.
4. Click on Break Link.

Please be careful: all cells referring to other workbooks within formulas will be changed to values. The underlying formulas will be removed.

If you want to avoid that the formulas are removed you might want to try another (more manual) approach: Using the replace function in Excel to replace the links with nothing:

1. Find a cell relating to another workbook within a formula.
2. Copy the link, shown with the square brackets inside the formula.
3. Make sure that the exact same sheet as the source sheet also exists in your current workbook.
4. Press Ctrl + h for opening the replace dialogue box.
5. Paste the copied link and leave the Replace field blank.
6. Click on Find Next.

Break links from named ranges

You can name cells in Excel. Instead of the cell reference as “A1” just the cell name will be shown. Breaking such links is easy:

1. On the Formulas ribbon go to Name Manager and you can see all the names in your workbook.
2. Please check in the reference column whether a cell name refers to another workbook. Just delete the entry if you want to cut that link.

Break Data Validation links

If you have data validation rules in your workbook – such as dropdown lists within cells – it’s possible that they relate to other workbooks. Unless you know exactly which cells have such rules you unfortunately have to search them.

Once you found cells having data validation rules referring to other workbooks follow these steps:

1. Select the cells having data validation rules referring to other workbooks.
2. Go to the Data ribbon.
3. Next, click on Data Validation.
4. The most common is the type List. If the source refers to other workbooks you should remove the path and link them to a place within your workbook. Alternatively remove the data validation rule completely by setting the “Allowed” type to “Any Value”.

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Break links of Conditional Formatting rules

Conditional Formatting rules can relate to other workbook as well. Especially when copying worksheets to other workbooks such links can be created. Finding them must be done for each worksheet separately:

1. Click on Conditional Formatting in the center of the Home ribbon.
2. Click on Manage Rules.
3. In the drop down list on the top of the newly opened window select ‘This Sheet’. Now all the conditional formatting rules of the current worksheet will be shown.
4. The easiest way is deleting the rules referring to other workbooks. Otherwise you have to change them manually and link them to your current workbook.

Break links of Pivot Tables

If the data source of Pivot Tables is in another workbook you can break this link too. Therefore, follow these steps:

1. Find out if the data source of your Pivot Table is located on another workbook as described in this article.
2. If the Pivot Table links to another workbook you have two options:
   1. Set another data source within your current workbook.
   2. Remove the Pivot functionality and copy and paste the complete Pivot Table as values.

Break all links with Professor Excel Tools

Because cutting links in Excel can be very troublesome and takes a lot of time, we’ve included a break link manager in our Excel add-in ‘Professor Excel Tools’. All the above mentioned steps are provided.

For breaking all the workbook links follow these steps:

1. Go to the Professor Excel ribbon. and click on the ‘Break Link Manager’ within the ‘Workbook Tools’ group (the button with crossed out link on it). Professor Excel Tools now counts how many times each link type can be found within your Excel table.
2. Select all the link types you’d like to break and click on start.
3. Now, Professor Excel will break all the links. This procedure can take some time, especially if you have a lot of data in your workbook. The current status is shown in the status bar on the bottom of the screen.

Try it for free and see if it works for you.

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This function is included in our Excel Add-In ‘Professor Excel Tools’

(No sign-up, download starts directly)

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Henrik Schiffner is a freelance business consultant and software developer. He lives and works in Hamburg, Germany. Besides being an Excel enthusiast he loves photography and sports.