How To Use Importrange In Google Sheets

Last Updated on October 31, 2023 by Jake Sheridan

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use importrange in Google Sheets.

If you work with data in multiple Google Sheets files, you may find yourself copying and pasting between files when data is not where you need it. This process is time-consuming and error-prone, but fortunately with the Google Sheets IMPORTRANGE() function you can create a formula that automatically displays data from a range in another Google Sheets file.

Just follow these steps:

Step 1

The IMPORTRANGE function requires the URL of the Google Sheets file you want to import data from. Open this file in your browser and copy the URL from the browser address bar

Step 2

Open the spreadsheet you want the linked data to appear in and type the following formula: “=IMPORTRANGE(“[URL]”, “Sheet1!A:B”)” where [URL] is the URL you copied in Step 1, and Sheet1!A:B is the A1 notation reference to the range within that spreadsheet that you want to import

Step 3

When you finish the formula, you’ll get an #REF! error because you haven’t yet given this spreadsheet permission to access data from the other spreadsheet. Hover over the error and a blue Allow Access button will appear. Click on it to allow the spreadsheet to perform the import

Step 4

If there is room in the spreadsheet to import the entire range, the data in the specified range of the other Google Sheets file will import

Step 5

If there is not room to import the entire range after the formula, you’ll get an #REF! error as shown below. To correct this, insert new rows or columns as needed to create space for the formula to expand. You can see where the conflict is by hovering your cursor over the error and checking the error message

Step 6

Once the formula is set up, it will automatically pull in the latest data from the source spreadsheet whenever values change.

Step 7

Note that the formula is read-only, so attempting to edit or overwrite imported values will break the formula and cause the same error message mentioned in Step 5 above.

Summary

Example Spreadsheet: Make a copy of the example spreadsheet

In this tutorial, I covered how to use importrange in Google Sheets. Want more? Check out all the Google Sheets Tutorials.