How to Show Formulas in Google Sheets
Google Sheets not only simplifies data calculations with formulas but also offers a clear way to display these formulas. Quickly revealing the formula used in your spreadsheet is an essential skill for auditing and perfecting your data work.
How to Show Formulas in Google Sheets
Google Sheets is a powerful tool for managing data with formulas, and sometimes you need to see the formulas themselves rather than their results. Here’s how you can do it.
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Using the Show Formulas Shortcut
One of the quickest methods to view formulas in Google Sheets is by using the Show Formulas shortcut. This function acts as a toggle switch, allowing you to alternate between displaying formulas and their results. Simply press Ctrl+` (the grave accent key, found above the Tab key) on your keyboard. This activates the Show Formulas mode, where all the formulas in your spreadsheet are visible instead of the results they produce. To revert to viewing the results, just press the same shortcut again. This process is particularly handy when working on complex spreadsheets, as it allows for a quick switch between views.
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Using the View Menu
For those who prefer using the mouse, showing formulas through the View menu is an alternative option. Though not as quick as the keyboard shortcut, it’s straightforward and user-friendly, especially for those less accustomed to keyboard shortcuts. To display formulas using this method, click on “View” in the top menu bar of Google Sheets. From the dropdown menu that appears, choose “Show formulas.” This action will switch the sheet to Show Formulas mode, similar to what the shortcut achieves. To hide the formulas and return to the default view where only the results data are shown, go back to the View menu and deselect “Show formulas.”
You might also gain useful advice from these articles that offer tips for Google Sheets:
FAQs
What is the quickest way to show all formulas in a Google Sheets document?
Press Ctrl+` (the grave accent key above the Tab key) to quickly toggle between showing and hiding formulas.
Can I view formulas in Google Sheets without affecting how others see the document?
Yes, showing formulas only changes the view for you, not for other users viewing the document.
Is there a way to show formulas using the Google Sheets menu?
Yes, click on ‘View’ in the top menu and select ‘Show formulas’ to reveal all formulas in the sheet.
Will the ‘Show Formulas’ mode display formulas in all sheets of a document?
No, it only shows formulas in the currently active sheet; you need to repeat the process for other sheets.
Can I print a Google Sheets document showing the formulas instead of their results?
Yes, by setting the document to ‘Show Formulas’ mode, you can print the sheet with formulas visible.
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