Turning off formulas in Excel is a handy skill to master, especially if you’re working with a large spreadsheet and only want to see the final values, not the underlying calculations. By following a few simple steps, you can switch from viewing formulas to seeing the actual results in the cells. Let’s dive into how you can accomplish this quickly and easily.
Step by Step Tutorial: How to Turn Off Formulas in Excel
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, it’s important to understand that what we’re actually doing here is switching between the formula view and the value view in Excel. By default, Excel displays the values in cells, but it also allows you to see the formulas behind those values if needed. Here’s how to toggle that view off.
Step 1: Open Your Excel Workbook
Open the Excel workbook where you wish to turn off the formulas.
When you open your Excel workbook, you’ll likely see the results of any calculations in the cells. If you’re seeing formulas instead, it’s because the workbook is in formula view mode.
Step 2: Locate the ‘Formulas’ Tab
Click on the ‘Formulas’ tab in the Excel ribbon.
The ‘Formulas’ tab is where you control everything related to calculations in Excel. It’s typically located towards the middle of the Excel ribbon, which is the toolbar that runs along the top of the application.
Step 3: Find the ‘Show Formulas’ Button
In the ‘Formulas’ tab, look for the ‘Show Formulas’ button.
This button is a toggle switch that controls whether you see formulas or values in your Excel cells. It is usually found in the ‘Formula Auditing’ group of the ‘Formulas’ tab.
Step 4: Click the ‘Show Formulas’ Button
Click the ‘Show Formulas’ button to turn off the formula view.
Once you click this button, Excel will switch to showing the results of the formulas, rather than the formulas themselves. If the button was already unselected, and you’re still seeing formulas, it might be because the cells are formatted to display text, which we’ll cover below.
After completing these steps, you should now see the actual values in your Excel cells rather than the formulas. This allows you to easily check the final numbers without getting distracted by the underlying calculations.
Tips: How to Turn Off Formulas in Excel
- If you find that the ‘Show Formulas’ button doesn’t work, double-check to make sure that the cells aren’t formatted as text, which forces Excel to display the formula as a string rather than calculating its result.
- Remember that using the keyboard shortcut
Ctrl + ~
(that’s the tilde key, usually found to the left of the number 1 on your keyboard) is a quick way to toggle between showing formulas and values. - If you’re troubleshooting someone else’s spreadsheet and formulas are showing, it could be that they’ve set the cell format to ‘Text’ intentionally or by accident.
- Be aware that turning off the formula view does not remove or alter the formulas; it merely hides them from view. They are still there, working behind the scenes.
- If you’re sharing a spreadsheet and don’t want others to see the formulas, consider protecting the sheet or workbook, which can prevent users from switching to formula view.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the ‘Show Formulas’ button look like?
The ‘Show Formulas’ button typically has a spreadsheet icon with some mathematical symbols on it. Hovering over the button with your mouse will also display a tooltip that says “Show Formulas.”
Can I turn off formulas for just one cell?
No, the ‘Show Formulas’ function applies to the entire worksheet. If you turn it off, all cells will display values instead of formulas.
What is the keyboard shortcut for turning off formulas in Excel?
The keyboard shortcut is Ctrl + ~
. Pressing these keys at the same time will toggle between showing formulas and showing values.
Why can’t I see the ‘Formulas’ tab in Excel?
If you can’t see the ‘Formulas’ tab, it might be that you’re using a version of Excel where the ribbon is minimized, or you’re in a different view like the ‘Page Layout’ view. Try maximizing the ribbon or switching to ‘Normal’ view.
Will turning off formulas affect my data?
No, turning off formulas just changes how the data is displayed. It does not alter the actual data or formulas in any way.
Summary
- Open Your Excel Workbook
- Locate the ‘Formulas’ Tab
- Find the ‘Show Formulas’ Button
- Click the ‘Show Formulas’ Button
Conclusion
Now that you’ve got the hang of turning off formulas in Excel, you can navigate your spreadsheets with ease, focusing on the values that matter most. Whether you’re prepping a report for your boss, keeping track of your monthly expenses, or just dabbling in number-crunching for fun, knowing how to switch between the formula view and the value view is essential. Plus, with the additional tips and answers to common questions, you’re well-prepared to troubleshoot any issues that come your way. Remember, Excel is a powerful tool, and like any tool, it’s all about knowing how to use it effectively. So go on, turn off those formulas and keep crunching those numbers like a pro!
Matthew Burleigh has been a freelance writer since the early 2000s. You can find his writing all over the Web, where his content has collectively been read millions of times.
Matthew received his Master’s degree in Computer Science, then spent over a decade as an IT consultant for small businesses before focusing on writing and website creation.
The topics he covers for MasterYourTech.com include iPhones, Microsoft Office, and Google Apps.
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