How to Stop Calculating Threads in Excel (4 Handy Methods)

If you want to stop calculating threads in Excel, this article is for you. Here, we will demonstrate to you 4 easy and effective methods to do the task effortlessly.

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4 Methods to Stop Calculating Threads in Excel

The following table has Product, Basic Price, VAT, and Total Cost columns. Using this table, we will show you how to stop calculating threads in Excel. Here, we used Excel 365. You can use any available Excl version.

Why Do We Need to Stop Calculating Threads?

Calculation Threads are when Excel can recognize segments of the calculation cycle, and recalculate simultaneously on different threads. These calculation threads run side by side, and therefore, create a problem. Along with that, in many situations, we do not need recalculation. In these cases, stopping calculating threads are necessary.

Let me explain to you how you can understand whether calculation thread is open or off.

Steps:

• First, type the following formula in cell E5.

• After that, we press ENTER. Then, you can see the result in cell E5.
• Next, we drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.

Here, you can see the formula is now automatically calculated in other cells of the Total Cost column.

Next, we will change the value of cell C6, and we will notice that the Total Cost in cell E6 will change.

• Further, we set the cell C6 value as $8000, and we can see that cell E6 changes automatically.

This is because of calculation threads. In many cases, we do not want calculation threads and AutoFill formulas in cells. To stop calculating threads in Excel, we will go through the following 4 methods.

1. Using Formulas from Excel Options to Stop Calculating Threads in Excel

In this method, we will go to the Formulas from Excel Options and select the Manual calculation option to stop calculating threads in Excel.

Steps:

• Firstly, go to the File tab.

• Secondly, select Options.

An Excel Options dialog box will appear.

• Thirdly, we will select Formulas >> we will scroll down until we find Calculation options.
• Afterward, from Calculation Options >> select Manual option.
• Next, click OK.

• At this time, we will go to our worksheet.

Here, we will change the value of cells C6 and C8 respectively. Along with that, we will notice whether there occurs a change in the Total Cost column’s cells E6 and E8.

• Later, we changed the value of cells C6 and C8 to $7000 and $8500. However, we can specify that no change has occurred in the Total Cost column’s cells E6 and E8.

In addition to this, we will check whether the AutoFill feature works or not.

Here, we can see the formula of cell E5 in the Formula Bar.

• After that, we will drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.

Finally, we can see that not the formula of cell E5 but rather the value of cell E5 has been copied in the other cells.

As a result, the calculating threads in Excel have stopped. 

2. Use of Calculation Options Feature to Stop Calculating Threads in Excel

Here, we will use the Calculation Options Feature from the Formula tab to select the Manual option, so that, we can stop calculating threads in Excel.

Steps:

• In the beginning, we will go to the Formulas tab >> from Calculation Options >> select Manual.

Now, we will change the value of cells C6 and C8 respectively. Along with that, we will notice whether there occurs a change in the Total Cost column’s cells E6 and E8.

• At this point, we changed the value of cells C6 and C8 to $85000 and $7000. However, we can notify that no change has occurred in the Total Cost column’s cells E6 and E8.

Along with that, we will check whether the AutoFill feature works or not.

Here, we can see the formula of cell E5 in the Formula Bar.

• Then, we will drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.

Next, we can see that not the formula of cell E5 but rather the value of cell E5 has been copied in the other cells.

Therefore, the calculating threads in Excel have stopped.

Read More: How to Improve Excel Performance with Large Files (15 Effective Way

3. Use of Advanced Feature from Excel Options

In this method, we will use the Advanced Excel option to select the Manual calculation option to stop calculating threads in Excel.

Steps:

• First, go to the File tab.

• Furthermore, select Options.

An Excel Options dialog box will appear.

• Next, select Advanced >> scroll down until Formulas come along.
• After that, mark Enable multi-threaded calculation box >> select Manual option >> click OK.

• At this point, we will go to our worksheet.

Now, we will change the value of cells C6 and C9 respectively. Also, we will notice whether there occurs a change in the Total Cost column’s cells E6 and E9.

• Next, we changed the value of cells C6 and C8 to $10500 and $8000. However, we can specify that no change has occurred in the Total Cost column’s cells E6 and E8.

Along with this, we will check whether the AutoFill feature works or not.

Here, we can see the formula of cell E5 in the Formula Bar.

• After that, we will drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.

As a result, we can see that not the formula of cell E5 but rather the value of cell E5 has been copied in the other cells.

Hence, the calculating threads in Excel have stopped.

4. Using VBA to Stop Calculating Threads in Excel

In this method, we will use VBA code to stop calculating threads in Excel. This is a quick and handy method.

Steps:

• First of all, we will go to the Developer tab >> select Visual Basic to bring out the VBA editor window.

You can also press the keyboard shortcut ALT+F11 to bring out the VBA editor window.

Next, a VBA editor window will appear.

• After that, from the Insert tab >> select Module.

• At this point, we will type the following code in the Module.

Sub Stop_Calculating_Threads()
Application.Calculation = XlCalculation.xlCalculationManual
End Sub

• Afterward, press the Run button marked with e Red color box to run the code.

In contrast, you can press the F5 key to run the code.

• Next, we will go to our worksheet.

Then, we will change the value of cells C6 and C8 respectively. Also, we will notice whether there occurs a change in the Total Cost column’s cells E6 and E8.

• After that, we changed the value of cells C6 and C8 to $7000 and $8500, but we can see that no change has occurred in the Total Cost column’s cells E6 and E8.

At this point, we will check whether the AutoFill feature works or not.

Here, we can see the formula of cell E5 in the Formula Bar.

• Moreover, we will drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.

Hence, we can see that not the formula of cell E5 but rather the value of cell E5 has been copied in the other cells.

Finally, the calculating threads in Excel have stopped.

Read More: How to Make VBA Code Run Faster (15 Suitable Ways)

Practice Section

You can download the above Excel file to practice the explained methods.

Conclusion

Here, we tried to show you 4 methods to stop calculating threads in Excel. 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.

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