Overview:
Is your Excel spreadsheet is displaying #REF! error in individual or several cells? Want to know how to fix the Vlookup Invalid Cell Reference Error Message? If yes then read the below tutorial and make use of the given solution to solve the Excel error.
What Is An Invalid Cell Reference Error In VLOOKUP?
Excel is all about formulas, formulas are the key part of this application. And this is the reason Excel provides various functions and formulas to make the work easy for the users.
But as we all know the fact that Excel is a very crucial file and a small mistake can make the entire Excel workbook corrupted or inaccessible. Sometimes while working we place any formula that goes wrong then Excel starts displaying errors.
The Excel Invalid Cell reference is one of the error messages faced by the users when the Excel workbook can’t properly calculate a formula you enter in the cell.
And in this case, the program starts displaying error values in that cell as soon as you complete the formula entry. The error begins with a number sign (#).
So, here in this article check out the working solutions to fix invalid cell reference error VLookup, but before moving forward check out the possible reasons responsible for the error.
Why Is My VLOOKUP Giving Me A Reference Error?
Invalid cell reference error occurs when a spreadsheet formula contains incorrect cell references. This error mainly comes when:
- By mistakenly data containing a row or column gets deleted.
- If a formula has been copied or moved to another cell and the cell reference are incorrect.
- Due to VLOOKUP with inaccurate or faulty range references
- Data used in the formula must get moved, leaving the formula or function with incorrect cell references.
Other Possible Reasons responsible for this:
You may have deleted cells that you might have posted those cells that you moved on the pinnacle of cells passed on by added formulas.
It may be that you might have used the linking of an object and link embedding (OLE) to a program that is not working anymore.
Also Read: How to Fix “Microsoft Excel is waiting for another application to complete an OLE action” Issue
How To Locate Problem With Formula Reference In Excel?
Well tracking the invalid reference error can be very frustrating as you need to look in several places.
Especially in the formulas that are on worksheets, this is very irritating. But here check out some tricks that help you to easily find the problem with the formula reference in Excel.
- Make use of go to the special dialog box to locate the issue easily. Press F5 > select Special to select to go to the cells that contain errors. And after that, you can use the Tab key for moving amongst the cells that Excel selects.
- Or else you can use the Find tool to find out the possible errors. Press Ctrl + F to display the Find and Replace dialog box and search the (#) Also assure to tell Excel to do the searching within the Formulas.
And check if anything is found to see if it error or not. you can also look for the named ranges defined in the workbook.
How To Fix #REF! – Vlookup Invalid Cell Reference Error?
- If the error checker is on, then press the button that displays the next error and click Show Calculation Steps if it emerges. After that go for a declaration that is suitable as per your data.
- Now change the formula or reinstate cells on worksheets by hitting Undo upon Quick Access Toolbar right away your delete or stick cells.
- Start the program that is known for Object Embedding and Linking (OLE).
- Also, check correctly that you make use of the correct Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) topic.
Automatic Solution: MS Excel Repair Tool
Make use of the professional recommended MS Excel Repair Tool that is the best-suited tool to fix damaged, corrupted or inaccessible Excel files. It can restore all the corrupt Excel files and helps to restore all corrupted Excel files and can recover everything included in the charts, cell comments, worksheet properties, and other data. With the help of this tool, users can repair .xlsx and .xls files.
With extraordinary attributes, this utility tool is ideal for restoring injured data files from cells and columns of the healthier file.
Steps to Utilize MS Excel Repair Tool:
Conclusion:
So this is all about the VLookup invalid cell reference error in Excel
Try the given solutions one by one to fix cell reference errors in Excel easily.
Apart from that, you can also make use of the automatic repair utility to fix the error and recover the data stored in it.
Also, we all know how essential Excel application is, so it is important to handle the Excel file properly and follow the best preventive steps to protect the Excel files from getting corrupted.
Despite it, always create valid backup of Excel data and as well scan your system with a good antivirus program for virus and malware infection.
If, in case you have any additional questions concerning the ones presented, do tell us in the comments section below or you can also visit our Repair MS Excel blog.
Good Luck!!!
Priyanka Sahu
Priyanka is a content marketing expert. She writes tech blogs and has expertise in MS Office, Excel, and other tech subjects. Her distinctive art of presenting tech information in the easy-to-understand language is very impressive. When not writing, she loves unplanned travels.