[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
In this article we will go over the most common IMPORTRANGE errors and how to fix them<\/b>. Every error will be grouped under the Google Sheets message displayed on your spreadsheet.<\/p>\n
If you are trying to use IMPORTRANGE but it\u2019s not working, then you\u2019ve come to the right place. This function is a great way to transfer data between spreadsheets<\/b>. However, it is quite fragile and can break easily.<\/p>\n
If all these solutions aren\u2019t enough, maybe you are asking IMPORTRANGE for too much. In that scenario we recommend using Sheetgo as a great alternative to transfer data between spreadsheets.<\/p>\n
If you want, you can learn more about IMPORTRANGE<\/a> before going over its errors.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n This is by far the most common error that arises when using this function. As we will see below it is usually caused by some issue with the spreadsheet you are trying to connect to.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n If this message pops there it usually means that the URL is wrong<\/b>. The easiest way to fix this is to copy and paste the URL of the spreadsheet again.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n The solution to this error is to just request access from the file owner<\/b>. Until you get it there isn\u2019t much you can do, so consider contacting them if they don\u2019t answer your request.<\/p>\n All you need is view access for the function to copy the data. Keep in mind that after you get access the error message will not be fixed until you Allow access <\/b>(see error below).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n If this message appears you have at least view permissions of the source spreadsheet but haven\u2019t allowed access<\/b>. When you click on the affected cell, the message box will include a button to Allow access<\/b> and solve the problem.<\/p>\n There is no risk involved in doing this, all you are doing is allowing the spreadsheets to connect, nothing more. Keep in mind that these are files that you already have access to.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n You may be doing everything correctly but you probably forgot to add quotation marks around the range<\/b>. This is counterintuitive for anybody familiar with Google where ranges aren\u2019t usually expressed like this.<\/p>\n In this context, quotation marks are necessary because Sheets will interpret any range to be in the current spreadsheet. If you want to point to a range from another spreadsheet you need quotation marks.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n This message means you are trying to access a sheet that doesn\u2019t exist<\/b> in the source file. Remember that in this case a \u201csheet\u201d is one of the many tabs that hold information within a spreadsheet.<\/p>\n This could be caused by:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n IMPORTRANGE is a self expanding function, it needs space to spread out all the information you are trying to import. If there is information in one of the cells it is trying to expand to, this message will show up.<\/p>\n Fortunately the error message will tell you the coordinates of the conflicting cell. All you have to do is erase any values within this problematic cell to solve the issue.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n This is a less frequent error message than REF but it can be tricky to solve. This is particularly true if you are trying to import more data than the function can handle.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n This may be caused by many factors. But it is usually the result of a very simple mistake: forgetting to add quotation marks around the URL. This can cause the function to try and interpret parts of the URL as separate arguments.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n This means that you are trying to import too much data. IMPORTRANGE can transfer a maximum of 50,000 cells, but this limit can be lower if cells contain a lot of information.<\/p>\n The only way to fix this is to trim your initial dataset. To achieve this we have a few recommendations:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n If you rely heavily on this function to manage your data, try out Sheetgo and stop fixing your spreadsheets.<\/p>\n Below are just some of the advantages of using Sheetgo instead of IMPORTRANGE for your data streams.<\/p>\n Our tool was born out of the need for an IMPORTRANGE alternative that was more robust and manageable. But over the past few years it has become so much more than that. Find out everything Sheetgo has to offer<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n There are a lot of things that can go wrong with IMPORTRANGE, so we might have missed some errors.<\/p>\n If none of these fixes worked, you can try to troubleshoot your problematic formula using AI<\/a>.<\/p>\n#REF!<\/h2>\n
Spreadsheet cannot be found<\/h3>\n
You don’t have permissions to access that spreadsheet<\/h3>\n
You need to connect these spreadsheets<\/h3>\n
Unresolved sheet name ‘[name]’<\/h3>\n
Cannot find range or sheet for imported range<\/h3>\n
\n
Array result was not expanded because it would overwrite data<\/h3>\n
#ERROR!<\/h2>\n
Formula parse error<\/h3>\n
Importrange result too large<\/h3>\n
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Sheetgo is the ultimate solution to your IMPORTRANGE errors<\/h2>\n
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\n IMPORTRANGE<\/b><\/td>\n Sheetgo<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \u274c Has a limit on the data you can transfer\u00a0<\/td>\n \u2714\ufe0f Transfer all the information you want<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \u274c Updates with every modification<\/td>\n \u2714\ufe0f Updates only when needed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \u274c Doesn\u2019t transfer formatting<\/td>\n \u2714\ufe0f Can transfer formatting<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \u274c Slows your spreadsheets down<\/td>\n \u2714\ufe0f Has little to no effect on performance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \u274c Hard to troubleshoot<\/td>\n \u2714\ufe0f Easily identify problems<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Is IMPORTRANGE still not working?<\/h2>\n