My formulas are not copying in excel

• #2

None without seeing the formula in the cell that is not working, and without knowing how you’re trying to copy the formula to the other cells.

It could be as simple as trailing spaces in B56:B58 on one of the sheets causing the whole thing to error.

The fact that the formulas in row 59 are working tells me that the column matches are working correctly, but that is the only definite factor that can be established so far.

• #3

None without seeing the formula in the cell that is not working, and without knowing how you’re trying to copy the formula to the other cells.

It could be as simple as trailing spaces in B56:B58 on one of the sheets causing the whole thing to error.

The fact that the formulas in row 59 are working tells me that the column matches are working correctly, but that is the only definite factor that can be established so far.

Here is the formula from C56: =IFERROR(INDEX(‘IS-1482272′!$B$5:$G$96,MATCH($B56,’IS-1482272′!$B$5:$B$96,0),MATCH(C$5,’IS-1482272’!$B$5:$G$5,0))+INDEX(‘IS-2299824′!$B$5:$G$96,MATCH($B56,’IS-2299824′!$B$5:$B$96,0),MATCH(C$5,’IS-2299824’!$B$5:$G$5,0)),0)

I copied the formula to the other cells by highlighting my selection from C59 to G59, then dragging the corner up in to the above 3 rows. I’ve tried deleting the cells in column B and retyping those accounts (Telephone, Travel, Utilities) but that didn’t seem to fix it up.

• #4

That should work perfectly fine. If the values in the 2 source sheets are from formulas then I can see a potential problem in the event that one sheet had a value while the other was blank, but given that both sheets have values it should be giving you something.

If this gives you a result that is equal to the value from one of the sheets then that will identify a problem in the other sheet.

Excel Formula:

=IFERROR(INDEX('IS-1482272'!$B$5:$G$96,MATCH($B56,'IS-1482272'!$B$5:$B$96,0),MATCH(C$5,'IS-1482272'!$B$5:$G$5,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX('IS-2299824'!$B$5:$G$96,MATCH($B56,'IS-2299824'!$B$5:$B$96,0),MATCH(C$5,'IS-2299824'!$B$5:$G$5,0)),0)

To test for additional problems, try

Excel Formula:

=MATCH($B56,'IS-1482272'!$B$5:$B$96,0)+4

and

Excel Formula:

=MATCH($B56,'IS-2299824'!$B$5:$B$96,0)+4

Do they return errors or numbers? If they return numbers then that will tell you which row the result is coming from in the source sheets (possibly not the correct row). If they return errors then it means that for some reason that (Telephone, Travel, Utilities) in column B are still not matching correctly.

• #5

That should work perfectly fine. If the values in the 2 source sheets are from formulas then I can see a potential problem in the event that one sheet had a value while the other was blank, but given that both sheets have values it should be giving you something.

If this gives you a result that is equal to the value from one of the sheets then that will identify a problem in the other sheet.

Excel Formula:

=IFERROR(INDEX('IS-1482272'!$B$5:$G$96,MATCH($B56,'IS-1482272'!$B$5:$B$96,0),MATCH(C$5,'IS-1482272'!$B$5:$G$5,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX('IS-2299824'!$B$5:$G$96,MATCH($B56,'IS-2299824'!$B$5:$B$96,0),MATCH(C$5,'IS-2299824'!$B$5:$G$5,0)),0)

To test for additional problems, try

Excel Formula:

=MATCH($B56,'IS-1482272'!$B$5:$B$96,0)+4

and

Excel Formula:

=MATCH($B56,'IS-2299824'!$B$5:$B$96,0)+4

Do they return errors or numbers? If they return numbers then that will tell you which row the result is coming from in the source sheets (possibly not the correct row). If they return errors then it means that for some reason that (Telephone, Travel, Utilities) in column B are still not matching correctly.

Fantastic! The second formula you gave me helped me identify the problem. It turns out that I have two rows within my source sheets with the heading ‘Telephone’ (and Travel and Utilities), which was confusing the original formula I had worked out.

1. 07-07-2009, 12:44 PM

   
   

   #1

   

   
   Registered User
   

   

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   Excel will not copy formulas
   

   I am trying to do a very simple copy and paste of a simple formula in Excel 2007 and nothing seems to be working. Excel will not let me copy and paste a formula and will only paste the value into to workbook. For instance, if I make a very simple spreadsheet such as:
   A1 type in 10, A2 type in =A1 (calculated A2 to be 10)
   B1 type in 5

   And then click the copy on B1, and then click paste special on cell B2, the only options it gives me are text and unicode text and so no matter how I paste, cell b2 will always be populated with a value of 5. I cannot imagine a simpler copy and paste and no matter what I do I can’t make this work.
   All cells are formatted as general. It seems that all copy and pasting of formulas in my excel has been disabled. If I open any spreadsheet on my computer, I can’t copy and paste formulas, but do the exact same thing on the exact same spreadsheet on any other computer and it works no problem.

   Any help?

   Last edited by jakethesnake; 07-07-2009 at 12:48 PM.

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2. 07-07-2009, 12:51 PM

   
   

   #2

   Re: Excel will not copy formulas
   

   Sounds to me as though you have 2 separate instances of XL running as opposed to 2 files within the same instance of XL.

   For ex. close everything completely, open XL, press CTRL + N to create a 2nd file in the same instance of XL, repeat your process above and you should find you can copy / paste etc… If you open 2 instances of XL and run one file in each you will experience the issues you mention.

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3. 07-07-2009, 12:54 PM

   
   

   #3

   

   
   Registered User
   

   

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   Re: Excel will not copy formulas
   

   I only have one spreadsheet open and one instance of excel open. I am literally trying to copy and paste from the cell above to the cell below. Not into different work books or different files.

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4. 07-07-2009, 12:57 PM

   
   

   #4

   Re: Excel will not copy formulas
   

   Could you attach the offending file to the board — we can then see if it’s a client issue or specific to the workbook… there may be a setting I’m not aware of
   (I suspect there are plenty!)

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5. 07-07-2009, 12:58 PM

   
   

   #5

   

   
   Registered User
   

   

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   Re: Excel will not copy formulas
   

   sorry to add my 2 cents but did you try dragging the formula down cells? or is that not what you are looking for?

   cheers

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6. 07-07-2009, 12:59 PM

   
   

   #6

   

   
   Registered User
   

   

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   Re: Excel will not copy formulas
   

   I’m not at the offending computer at the moment, but it does it for all spreadsheets, even new ones, but if I save it to our common drive and open it up on any other computer, it works like a charm, so I doubt it would be a file issue (as it is happening to all files and only on this computer), but if you’d still like the file I can upload it in about half an hour..

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7. 07-07-2009, 01:00 PM

   
   

   #7

   

   
   Registered User
   

   

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   Re: Excel will not copy formulas
   

   And yes, I’ve tried dragging down, also to no avail (again, but only on this computer…)

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8. 07-07-2009, 01:01 PM

   
   

   #8

   Re: Excel will not copy formulas
   

   Just checking … not to sound like the IT dept but have you tried completely rebooting the client in question ?

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9. 07-07-2009, 01:03 PM

   
   

   #9

   

   
   Registered User
   

   

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   Re: Excel will not copy formulas
   

   when you click on paste special check values and see if that works?

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10. 07-07-2009, 01:05 PM

    
    

    #10

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    I haven’t tried the ‘magic windows fix-all’ of rebooting yet, but I will now!

    And mikey, when I click paste special, the only two options are text and unicode text. Values, formulas, etc don’t even appear.

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11. 07-07-2009, 01:17 PM

    
    

    #11

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    ahhhh maybe it has something to do with excel itself. I wonder if all the components are installed on it. Does it do it no matter how many different excel sheets you open?

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12. 07-07-2009, 01:23 PM

    
    

    #12

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    Well, well, resetting did it. By the looks of it there was a program that was accessing the clipboard that had hijacked it and was causing it to fail. It’s amazing how much can be fixed by a hard reset. Thanks for your help everyone!

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13. 07-07-2009, 01:26 PM

    
    

    #13

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

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14. 07-07-2009, 01:27 PM

    
    

    #14

    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    re: clipboard etc… some useful links to apps to aid determining underlying cause: http://www.howtofixcomputers.com/bb/ftopic140408.html

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15. 04-01-2011, 12:28 PM

    
    

    #15

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    In case it helps anyone —
    I had this exact problem in Excel 2003. Using this thread as a guide I traced the problem to a clipboard enhancement tool I use called Arsclip. Kill that and the copy / paste / paste special works as normal..

    It’s a real shame because I find Arsclip really useful — and this is the only time I’ve found it to interfere with any other program.

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16. 09-27-2011, 01:19 AM

    
    

    #16

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Unicode (hex) symbol through VBA
    

    Hello all, I am looking to use VBA to replace <= with character code: 2264 from Unicode (hex) or 32 from ASCII (decimal).

    Typically I would do:

    Cells.Replace What:=»<=», Replacement:=»=», LookAt:=xlPart, SearchOrder _
    :=xlByRows, MatchCase:=False, SearchFormat:=False, ReplaceFormat:=False

    But as you can see from the latter half the symbol is not there. Would definitely appreciate any help that you can give me. Thank you!

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17. 03-27-2012, 11:08 AM

    
    

    #17

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    I had this exact same problem with Excel 2007 on Windows 7, and was able to solve it easily once I figured out what the problem was.

    My problem was Skype.

    Specifically, the Skype «click-and-dial» software, which installs itself in numerous programs and browsers. I de-installed Skype (including click-and-dial) then reinstalled Skype without click and dial (for some reason, it did not even offer to install it during the reinstall).

    Voila! Problem solved!

    Last edited by lextran12; 03-27-2012 at 11:11 AM.

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18. 04-25-2012, 10:20 PM

    
    

    #18

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    I have been having the exact same problems — I just deleted the Skype «click-and-dial» software. Seems to have cured the problem but it was an on or off issue so I am going to give it a few days.

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19. 04-25-2012, 10:31 PM

    
    

    #19

    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    It usually only causes a problem if you have the browser add-in installed and have your browser open while Excel is open. If the browser is closed, copy/paste should work normally. There is also an updated version of the browser add-in from Skype if you do need it installed.

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20. 05-15-2012, 03:45 PM

    
    

    #20

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    Try this: Click on: Formulas > Calculation Options. From the drop down mwnu, choose Automatic.
    Let me know if that works.

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21. 06-08-2012, 03:47 AM

    
    

    #21

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    it is right, i also experience the same error, can not «copy» or use «paste special option» though i have been trying a lot of steps
    to this problem you can:
    1/ Close Skype if it is opening
    or
    2/Delete/ remove Skype from Google Chrome browser, no need to unistall it

    Done. Every thing is ok now.

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22. 06-08-2012, 02:12 PM

    
    

    #22

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    I’m having the same problem. When you say you reset it, do you mean you just re-booted your computer?

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23. 06-08-2012, 02:19 PM

    
    

    #23

    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    Uninstall the Skype browser add-in and you should be able to copy and paste in Excel. If you need the Skype add-in, download the latest version from their website which has fixed the compatibility issue.

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24. 09-21-2012, 07:45 PM

    
    

    #24

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    I have similar problems in both Excel and Word — but they are random. Sometimes they copy normally, sometimes it is text-only which is very annoying in both. However, I do have Skype running so I shall try what has been suggested here. Thanks.

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25. 01-05-2015, 06:35 PM

    
    

    #25

    

    
    Registered User
    

    

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    Re: Excel will not copy formulas
    

    Just had this happen in Excel 2010 and couldn’t figure out what was happening until some googling found this discussion.

    For the record it was PushBullet’s Universal Copy/Paste feature that was the culprit in my case. Hope this is helpful for someone else down the road.

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SV

• #1

Hi everyone,

My formulas were working just fine until today. I think
some setting somewhere in Excel has gone haywire, but I
don’t know what or how.

I’ve got a column of data and have a column next to it
that I’m using as a running total. When I drag the formula
down in the running total it is showing the correct field
references in all the fields after I’ve dragged it down,
however it is producing unexpected results. i.e it is
showing the same number in every field in that column as
the result instead of the result of the actual formula.
Has anyone else had this problem? What did you do to fix
it?

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Norman Harker

Arvi Laanemets

• #3

Hi

Or calculation is set to manual (Tools.Options.Calculation). You can easily
test it, pressing F9

Guest

• #4

Hi Norman,

No that is not the problem at all.

Here is an example!
Debits Credits Balance
$307.28 $307.28
$514.81 $822.09
$13.38 $835.47
$16.14 $851.61
$114.22 $965.83
$4.41 $970.24
$44.18 $1,014.42
$4.93 $1,019.35
$228.80 $1,248.15
$17.04 $1,265.19

Now that above is the result I am wanting! So that it is a
running total of the debits column minus the credits
column. If we call Debits Column A, Credits Column B and
the balance column C, and I was trying to get the second
row’s result to be $822.09 I would put in the formula
=C1+A2-B2. I would then drag the formula down so that it
will update the rest of Column C.

Now, that always worked fine for me until today. When you
look at the formulas it puts into the remaining fields in
Column C, they appear to be correct (ie, the next line
would be =C2+A3-B3 and then the next one =C3+A4-B4 and so
on)however, it keeps giving the result of $822.09 on every
line regardless of the formula. It’s very peculiar!

I hope that makes a bit more sense now…

JE McGimpsey

• #5

Tools/Options/Calculate select the Automatic radio button.

Guest

• #6

Thanks heaps for that! It works now!

——Original Message——
Tools/Options/Calculate select the Automatic radio button.

.

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• #7

For Microsoft Excel 2010,
go to ‘Formulas‘ tab, then under the Calculation group, located at the end of the ribbon, click ‘Calculation Option‘ and select ‘Automatic’.

My formulas won’t copy to another excel sheet?

As an Excel user, I know how frustrating it can be when formulas don’t copy down as expected.

From my experience, I learned that common issues like incorrect cell formatting, incorrect references, or Excel calculation settings might prevent formulas from copying down properly.

This tutorial examines seven reasons formulas may not copy down in Excel and offers possible solutions.

Reason #1: Workbook Calculation Mode is Set to Manual

Excel has two calculation modes: Automatic and Manual. 

Automatic calculation mode is Excel’s default setting, where Excel automatically recalculates all formulas in the workbook whenever a change is made to any referenced cell in the formula. 

However, you may get a workbook where the calculation mode has been set to Manual, meaning Excel will not automatically recalculate formulas. 

For example, consider the following dataset in a workbook where the calculation mode has been switched to Manual.

The dataset shows the descriptions, quantities, and prices of various electronic devices bought by a particular firm.

We want to use a formula to return the total prices of the items in column D. 

So, we proceed as follows:

1. Select cell D2 and enter the formula below:

=B2*C2

1. Drag or double-click the fill handle feature to copy the formula down the column.

Notice that the total price is the same in every row of column D of the dataset, which needs to be corrected. 

How to Fix 

We can do any of the following to fix the issue of formulas not copying down because the workbook is set to Manual calculation Mode:

• Switch the worksheet’s calculation mode to Automatic by selecting the Formulas tab, opening the Calculations Options drop-down on the Calculations group, and choosing Automatic.

• Calculate the entire workbook by pressing F9 or clicking Calculate Now button on the Calculation group of the Formulas tab.

Either of the above steps will copy the formula down the column and give us the correct total price in every row of column D of the dataset:

Also read: VLOOKUP Not Working – 7 Possible Reasons + Fix!

Reason #2: The Fill Handle is Disabled

The fill handle in Excel is the small green square located in the bottom right corner of a selected cell or cell range, as shown below:

If the fill handle is enabled, when we enter a formula in a cell and double-click or drag the fill handle, the formula is copied down the column. 

However, in some situations, the fill handle may be disabled such that we may not be able to drag the fill handle, or if we double-click it, we enter into edit mode instead of copying the formula down the column.

How to Fix

We enable the Fill Handle using the steps below:

1. Click File to open Excel’s Backstage window.

1. Click Options on the left sidebar of Excel’s Backstage window.

1. On the Excel Options dialog box, select Advanced on the left sidebar, select the Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop option on the right and click OK.

With the fill handle enabled, we can copy the formula down the column by dragging or double-clicking the fill handle. 

Also read: Excel Shortcuts Not Working - How to Fix?

Reason #3: There are Blank Cells in the Cell Range

Excel will stop copying down a formula when it encounters a blank cell in the range.

For example, look at the following dataset with an empty row 5.

When we enter a formula in cell D2….

….and double-click the fill handle to copy the formula down the column, we notice that Excel stops copying the formula in cell D4:

How to Fix

Ensure there are no blank cells in the relevant cell range. In this case, we delete the blank cell D5 by deleting the empty row 5:

• Right-click the numeric header of row 5 and select Delete option on the menu that appears.

With the blank cell removed, we can double-click the fill handle in the cell where Excel stopped copying the formula, and the formula is copied down the column:

Reason #4: The Formula Contains Absolute References

Absolute references in Excel do not change when you copy a formula to another cell.

Therefore, a formula containing absolute references does not adjust to new cells when copied down. 

For example, the dataset below has a formula with absolute references in cell D2:

When we double-click or drag the fill handle to copy the formula down column D, we get the same total price in every cell, which needs to be corrected.

How to Fix

Change the absolute references in the formula to relative references by removing the dollar signs in the references, as shown below:

Note: You can either manually delete the dollar signs or select each cell reference in the formula and press F4 several times until all the dollar signs are removed.

Now when we drag or double-click the fill handle, the formula adjusts appropriately in every cell down the column, giving us the correct total price for each item:

Reason #5: The Worksheet or Particular Cells are Protected

A protected Excel worksheet is a worksheet that is locked to prevent users from making changes to particular aspects of the worksheet’s contents, structure, or formatting. 

If the worksheet or specific cells are protected, formulas may not copy down if the cells being copied to are locked.

For example, the following dataset is on a protected worksheet with only cell D2 containing the formula unlocked:

If we double-click or drag the fill handle tool to copy the formula down the column, the formula is not copied, and instead, Excel gives us a warning message indicating that the cells we are trying to change are on a protected sheet.

How to Fix

We must unprotect the worksheet to copy the formula down the column.

We use the following steps to unprotect the worksheet:

1. On the Review tab, click the Unprotect Sheet button on the Protect group.

1. If the worksheet’s author protected it with a password, Excel requests you to enter the password. Enter the password used by the author to protect the worksheet on the Unprotect Sheet dialog box and click OK.

The worksheet becomes unprotected. 

1. Drag or double-click the fill handle tool to copy the formula down the column.

The formula is copied down the column, but you notice an error indicator next to the cell range in column D.

When you hover the cursor over the indicator,  it displays the error message showing that the active cell has a formula and is not locked to protect it from being altered unknowingly. 

1. To remove the error indicator, click the down arrow on the error indicator and choose Ignore Error.

The error indicator is removed from every cell in the cell range:

Reason #6: The Fill Formulas in Tables AutoCorrect Option is Disabled

By default, when we enter a formula in a cell in an Excel table, the formula is automatically copied to the other cells down the column.

However, formulas are not automatically copied if the Fill Formulas in tables to create calculated columns AutoCorrect option is disabled.

Suppose we have the following Excel table showing the description, quantity, and price of various electronic gadgets bought by a particular company.

Let’s enter type the following formula into cell D2 to compute the total price:

=[@Qty]*[@[Price(USD) ]]

When we press Enter, we realize that the formula is not automatically copied down the column as expected:

How to Fix

To fix the issue of the formula not being automatically copied down the column, we must enable the fill formulas in tables AutoCorrect option using the following steps:

1. Click File to open Excel’s Backstage window. 

1. Click Options on the left sidebar of the Backstage window.

1. Click Proofing on the left sidebar of the Excel Options dialog box and click the AutoCorrect Options button on the right.

1. On the AutoCorrect dialog box, open the AutoFormat As You Type tab, select the Fill formulas in tables to create calculated columns option, and click OK.

1. Click OK on the Excel Options dialog box. 
2. Select the cell containing the formula on the Excel table and click at the end of the formula on the formula bar.

1. Press Enter, and the formula is automatically copied down the column.

Reason #7: There are Merged Cells in the Target Cell Range

If merged cells are in the cell range to which we want to copy a formula, they will prevent the formula from copying down as expected. 

Let’s consider the dataset below. First, notice that cells D8 and D9 are merged.

 We want to enter a formula in cell D2 that computes the total price of the first item on the list and copy the formula down the column to calculate the total prices of the electronic items. 

We use the steps below.

1. Select cell D2 and type in the formula below:

=B2*C2

1. Double-click or drag down the fill handle feature to copy the formula down the column.

Excel does not copy the formula down the column but instead displays a warning message indicating that all the merged cells must be the same size to copy the formula down the column.

How to Fix

We must unmerge the merged cells to fix the problem of the formula not copying down because of merged cells in the target cell range.  

We use the steps below to split the merged cells:

1. Select the merged cells D8 and D9.

1. On the Home tab, open the Merge & Center drop-down on the Alignment group and choose Unmerge Cells:

The merged cells are now unmerged:

Now, when we double-click the fill handle in cell D2, the formula copies down the column as expected:

Also read: Why is Merge and Center Grayed Out?

This tutorial explained seven possible reasons for formulas not copying down in Excel and offered solutions. We hope you found the tutorial helpful.

Other Excel articles you may also like:

• Excel Fill Series Not Working
• Excel Not Responding – How To Fix It!
• Formula Bar in Excel – Show/Hide Formula Bar!
• Excel Crashes When Opening File
• Not Enough Memory to Complete This Action in Excel – How to Fix?