=IFERROR(panic, read_this)

Error fixes

Spreadsheet errors are messages, not mysteries. Each guide explains what the error means, the usual causes, and the proper fix — not just an IFERROR to sweep it under the rug.

error fix

Fix the #N/A Error

#N/A means your lookup found no match. Here's why it happens — usually invisible spaces or missing values — and how to fix or handle it.

=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2,Sheet2!A:B,2,FALSE),"Not found")

error fix

Fix the #VALUE! Error

#VALUE! means a formula got the wrong type of data — usually text where a number should be. Here's how to find the culprit cell and fix it.

=ISNUMBER(B2)

error fix

Fix the #REF! Error

#REF! means a formula points at cells that no longer exist — usually after deleting rows or columns. Here's how to repair and prevent it.

=INDEX(Data!C:C,MATCH(A2,Data!A:A,0))

error fix

Fix the #DIV/0! Error

#DIV/0! means you divided by zero or by an empty cell. Guard the division with IF so averages and rates stay clean.

=IF(B2=0,"",A2/B2)

error fix

Fix the #NAME? Error

#NAME? means the spreadsheet doesn't recognize something you typed — a misspelled function, text without quotes, or an undefined name.

=VLOOKUP(A2,Sheet2!A:B,2,FALSE)

error fix

Fix the #SPILL! Error

#SPILL! means a dynamic array formula needs room to expand but something is blocking it. Clear the cells in its way and it heals itself.

=UNIQUE(A2:A20)

error fix

Fix the #NUM! Error

#NUM! means a calculation produced an impossible number — a negative square root, a result too large, or date math that runs backwards.

=IFERROR(SQRT(A2),"Check input")

error fix

Fix a Circular Reference

A circular reference means a formula depends on its own cell, directly or through a chain. Here's how to find the loop and break it.

=SUM(A2:A10)

error fix

Fix the Formula Parse Error in Google Sheets

Google Sheets' formula parse error means the formula's punctuation is broken — wrong separators, smart quotes, or a missing parenthesis.

=IF(A2>10,"High","Low")

error fix

VLOOKUP Returns the Wrong Value

No error, just wrong data — VLOOKUP quietly returns the wrong value when FALSE is missing, the column number shifts, or keys are duplicated.

=VLOOKUP(A2,Sheet2!$A:$C,3,FALSE)