Forum Discussion
Want a formula result to update across Sheets?
What you’re running into is a values vs formulas issue, not a calculation or Excel version problem.
Short version:
If you paste values, they will never update.
To update across sheets, the cells must contain formulas, not pasted values.Let’s break it down clearly and then give you the correct way to do this.
What’s happening now (why it doesn’t update)
When you:
- Select multiple sheets
- Paste V (Paste Values)
Excel is doing exactly what you told it to do:
- It pastes the current number
- It removes the formula (=Aux!B22)
- There is no longer a link to Aux
So later, when you change Aux!B1:
- Aux!A22 updates
- Aux!B22 updates
- Other sheets do not update because they only contain a static value
This is expected Excel behavior.
What you actually want
You want:
- One calculation sheet (Aux)
- Many sheets that stay linked to it
- When Aux changes → all sheets update automatically
To do that, every target cell must contain a formula, not a pasted value.
Correct way to do this (step-by-step)
Keep your calculation in Aux
Example:
Aux!A22 = SUM(B1:B3)
Optional helper cell:
Aux!B22 = A22
Link other sheets with formulas (NOT values)
Option A — Use grouped sheets (best if layouts match)
- Select all target sheets
(Click first → Shift-click last) - Click the destination cell (e.g. B22)
- Enter:
- =Aux!B22
- Press Enter
- Ungroup sheets
This inserts the formula into every selected sheet
All sheets will now update automaticallyVerify it worked
Click any target sheet and check the cell:
- Formula bar should show:
- =Aux!B22
If you see a number instead → it was pasted as a value and will never update.
What will NEVER work (by design)
- Paste Special → Values
- Copy → Paste Values
- Drag-fill after pasting values
Once the formula is removed, Excel has no reference to Aux anymore.
If you need different sheets but same formula
If every sheet should pull from Aux but stay independent:
='Aux'!$B$22
Use absolute references so nothing shifts.
Summary
Method
Updates?
Paste Values
Never
Formula =Aux!B22
Always
Grouped sheets + formula
Best solution
My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!
Hope this will help you.
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Hello CremeStout,
You’re running into the difference between pasting values and pasting formulas in Excel.
When you use Paste Special → Values, Excel writes the number into each sheet. That’s just a snapshot — it will never update again. To keep things dynamic, you need the formula itself (=Aux!B22) in those cells, not the value.
How to make it update across sheets:
In your Aux sheet, put your calculation in A22 (for example =SUM(B1:B3)). Decide where you want that result to show in other sheets (say B22). Select all the target sheets at once (hold Ctrl or Shift while clicking their tabs). In the active sheet, type:
=Aux!A22
into cell B22. Because the sheets are grouped, Excel will enter the same formula into B22 of every selected sheet. Ungroup the sheets. Now, whenever Aux!A22 changes, all linked cells update automatically.
If you want automation, you can also use a simple VBA macro to push the formula into every sheet:
Sub LinkAuxToSheets()
Dim ws As Worksheet
For Each ws In ThisWorkbook.Worksheets
If ws.Name <> "Aux" Then
ws.Range("B22").Formula = "=Aux!A22"
End If
Next ws
End Sub
This way, you don’t have to group sheets manually — the macro writes the formula into B22 of every sheet except Aux.
Bottom line: Don’t paste values. Enter or push the formula itself (=Aux!A22) into each sheet. That keeps the link live, so any change in Aux flows through to all the other sheets.