Excel Status Bar Not Showing Sum (2 Possible Solutions)

In this Excel tutorial, we will discuss the issue of sum not showing in the status bar.

“Sum” in the status bar shows the summation of the selection in real-time. The visibility of sum values is particularly beneficial when working with large datasets. Because it allows users to obtain key information from part of it without the need for additional calculations.

The sum value may not appear for various factors. Potential causes include incorrect cell selection, the presence of non-numeric data in the selected range, or specific Excel settings that need adjustment.

2 Solutions for Excel Status Bar Not Showing Sum

By default, in Excel, when the user selects a range of numbers, it shows the count, sum, and average value in the status bar on the bottom side of the worksheet.

But for some reason, the status bar may not display the sum value. Here, I will show you 2 quick and easy ways to solve the problem when the status bar is not showing the sum:

Solution 1: Customizing Excel Status Bar Options

You can display different information on the status bar using the context menu. You can quickly enable or disable additional status bar indicators, such as the page number, the zoom slider, and the Spelling and Grammar check.

In most cases, the reason behind the sum not showing in the status bar is that it is disabled from options.

Follow these steps to enable sum from status bar options:

Right-click on the status bar at the bottom of the worksheet.
Here, you will see a list of different options. Some of them are marked ticked and some of them are not.
Now find the options Sum, Average, and Count and mark them ticked.

As a result, you will see the status bar showing the sum, average, and count values.

Solution 2: Changing Cell Format to Numbers

Sometimes, you may find that the sum, average, and count all are marked in the customized status bar but still, the status bar is not showing the sum. It may happen because of the format of the cells.

The status bar will not show the sum if the cells are not in number format. So, you have to convert them into a number format.

You can use the following methods to change cell formats to numbers so that the sum values show up in the status bar:

1. Change Numbers from Ribbon

There is a Number group in the Home tab. You can directly change the cell value type from here. You can also click the downward-right arrow at the bottom of the group for more customizing options.

Follow these steps to change the cell format to number from the ribbon:

Select the cells.
Go to the Home tab.
Open the Format drop-down options and select Number format.

As a result, the problem should be solved.

2. Remove Apostrophe Before Numbers

In some cases, you will find an apostrophe (‘) in front of the numbers which is used to convert the number format to text format. You have to remove the apostrophe from the cells individually for these cases.

You will find the status bar showing the sum and average value after that.

3. Remove Formatting Using Paste Values Option

One of the causes the sum values don’t show up in the status bar is the cell values are not in number format. You can change numeric values to Excel’s number format using the “Paste Values” option too.

The feature removes any additional formats and returns the raw value. For numeric values, they become numbers.

Follow these steps to remove formatting using the paste option to display sum values in the status bar:

Select the cells and press Ctrl + C to copy them.
Now right-click on a new cell.
Select Value under Paste Options from the context menu.
Click on the image to get a detailed view.

Now, select the cells of the pasted column and you will see that the status bar is showing the sum and average values along with count as normal.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook from here:

Status Bar not Showing Sum.xlsx

Conclusion

The sum value may not show because the sum is disabled from the status bar menu. With the option checked, the cells may not contain numeric values to show sums either. Even if the numbers are in numeric forms, you may need to convert them into Excel’s number formats using different methods.

If you have any questions or suggestions, let us know in the comments below.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I copy sum from status bar in Excel?

To copy any summary value from the status bar in Excel, simply click on it. Excel will copy the value to the clipboard. You can then paste it into any cell or text space.

Why is my status bar not showing in Excel?

The status bar may not show up because you are in the full-screen mode, focus mode, or the option is simply disabled from your application. You can use VBA and keyboard shortcut to hide and unhide status bar in Excel.

Does the sum value in the status bar work with non-contiguous cell selections?

Yes, the sum works for non-contiguous cell selection. The discontinuously selected cells can also show average, count, minimum, and maximum in the status bar.

<< Go Back to Status Bar in Excel | Excel Parts | Learn Excel

Get FREE Advanced Excel Exercises with Solutions!