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If your Excel formulas not working on another computer and you are looking for solutions, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will walk you through 5 reasons that are responsible for formulas not working on another computer, and we will give you the solutions.
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5 Reasons with Solutions for Excel Formulas Not Working on Another Computer
The following table has Product and Price columns. The Total Price is calculated using the SUM function, and we can see the formula in the Formula Bar. Now, using this table, we will show you 5Â reasons that are responsible for Excel formulas not working on another computer. Along with that, we will describe solutions to these problems. Here, we used Excel 365. You can use any available Excel version.
1. Enabling Manual Calculation Options on Another Computer
If the Manual Calculation Option is on on the new computer, the formulas will not work.
Let us first show you how the formula first works properly on our computer:
Steps:
In the following picture, we can see the Total Cost in cell C10, and we can see the formula in the Formula Bar.
- Next, we will change the value of cell C9 in the Price column, we will see that the formula works properly and gives a new Total Cost.
At this point, we will show you how this formula does not work on another computer:
Here, we will open the above Excel file on another computer, and we will change the Price value of cell C9 from $1000 to $1200. Therefore, the Total Cost must be changed.
However, when we set the value of cell C9 to $1200, we notice that the Total Cost has not been changed. Therefore, the formula is not working.
This is because the Calculation Option is set to Manual.
Solution:
To set the Calculation Options from Manual to Automatic on another computer, we will follow the following steps.
- Firstly, we will go to the Formulas tab.
- Afterward, from Calculation Options >> select Automatic.
As a result, you will see that the Total Cost is now calculated and the formula has worked.
Therefore, your problem with the Excel formulas not working on another computer will be solved.
2. Cells Are Formatted as Text on Another Computer
In many cases, the Excel formula does not work on another computer because the cells are formatted as Text. Therefore, Excel knows the formula cell as Text, and the formula does not work.
Let us show you the problem first:
Steps:
- First, we typed the following formula in cell C10.
=SUM(C5:C9)- Then, press ENTER.
You can see the formula does not work. Instead of showing the result in cell C10, it shows the formula.
Now, we will check the formatting of cell C10.
- To do so, click on cell C10 >>go to the Home tab.
- After that, check on the Number group, here, we can see Text is set as Number Format.
Hence, this is the reason why the formula is not working.
Solution:
To solve the above problem, we will go through the following steps:
- First, click on cell C10 >> go to the Home tab.
- Then, click on the drop-down arrow marked with a Red color box of the Number Format box >> select Currency.
Therefore, you will see that the Total Cost is now calculated and the formula has worked.
Hence, your problem with the Excel formulas not working on another computer will be solved.
Read More: [Fixed!] Formula Not Working and Showing as Text in Excel
3. Using Different Versions of Excel on Another Computer
It happens several times when you are working on a computer with the new version of Excel, and after that, when you open the file on another computer, the formula does not work. This is because some formulas of the newer versions of Excel do not work on the older versions of Excel.
Let us discuss the problem by following the steps:
In the following Excel sheet, we have the Name and Unique Name column. Here, we used Excel 365.
- In the beginning, we typed the following formula using the UNIQUE function.
=UNIQUE(B5:B12)- After that, press ENTER.
- Next, we drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.
Therefore, we can see the complete Unique Name column.
- Next, we open this Excel file on another computer with a lower Excel version.
At this point, we can see that the Unique Name column shows no name. This is because the UNIQUE function only works on Excel 365. Hence, on a computer with a lower version of Excel, the formulas will not work.
Solution:
Open the Excel file on a computer that has the same Excel version as the computer where the formula was first written. This will solve the problem of Excel formulas not working on another computer.
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4. Absence of a Reference File
In many cases, it happens that the formula needs a reference file, and without the reference file, the formula will not work. In that case, if the reference file is absent on another computer, the formula will not work.
Let us first show you the formula working with the reference file:
- First of all, we typed the following formula using the INDEX function in cell D5.
=INDEX('C:\Users\Administrator\Documents\[Reference File.xlsx]#REF'!$B$4:$D$9,3,3)- Afterward, we pressed ENTER.
Therefore, you can see the Purchase Date in cell D5.
- Here, we selected the array from another Excel file named Reference File.
- Next, we open the Excel file on another computer, and we can see the formula is not working.
This is because the Reference File is absent in the new computer, therefore, the array is missing.
Solution:
To solve these kinds of problems, you need to have both the formula file and the reference file on another computer.
As a result, you can solve the problem of Excel formulas not working on another computer.
Read More: [Solved]: Excel Array Formula Not Showing Result (4 Suitable Solutions)
5. Not Saving Excel File as Macro-Enabled Workbook
When you have a formula in the VBA code of your Excel file, you must save the Excel file as Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm). If you do not save the workbook Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm), then the formula will not work in another workbook.
Let us show you the steps where we work on our computer and use a formula in VBA with the following steps:
Here, in the following table, we want to calculate the Total Cost by using the SUM function in the VBA code.
- To do so, first of all, we will go to the Developer tab >> select Visual Basic.
- Next, a VBA editor window will appear.
- After that, from the Insert tab >> select Module.
- Afterrward, in the Module, type the following code.
Sub sum_product()
Range("C10") = Application.WorksheetFunction.Sum(Range("C5:C9"))
End Sub- After that, press on the Red colored marked box Run button.
As a result, you will see the Total Cost value in cell C10.
- Later, we will save our workbook as Excel Workbook (*.xlsx).
- Next, we will open our Excel file on another computer.
- Afterward, we will right-click on the sheet name to bring a Context Menu.
- Then, we will click on View Code to see the code with the formula.
A VBA editor window will appear.
However, you can see there is no Module or VBA code in the window.
As a result, we cannot run the code on a new computer.
This is because we did not save the Excel file as Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm).
Solution:
To solve the above problem, we will save the original file as Excel Macro Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm).
- Next, we will open the file on another computer.
- Moreover, we will right-click on the sheet name to bring out the Context Menu.
- Along with that, we will select View Code.
This time we can see the code in the Module.
Hence, you can solve the problem of Excel formulas not working on another computer.
Read More: [Fixed!] SUM Formula Not Working in Excel (8 Reasons with Solutions)
Things to Remember
If you open your Excel file on a computer, where the language is different from the computer where you first write the formula, it is possible that the formula will not work. This is because of the language differences. Therefore, make sure both the computer have the same language.
Conclusion
Here, we tried to show you 5Â solutions for Excel formulas not working on another computer. Thank you for reading this article, we hope this was helpful. If you have any queries or suggestions, please let us know in the comment section below. Please visit our website Exceldemy to explore more.
