How to Copy Formulas Without Changing Cell References in Excel

When a formula that references a cell in Excel is copied and pasted, Excel automatically decides whether to adjust the cell reference based on the relative position of the cell. If the formula is being pasted one cell below its original position and there is a value one cell below the reference cell, that value will be used in the copied formula. However, if you want to use the reference cell as a constant value, this is not the desired behavior. Copy a formula without changing the referenced cell to resolve this issue.

Instructions

1. Click the cell containing the formula that you would like to copy, then use the mouse pointer to highlight all of the text in the formula bar (the bar with "fx" on the left side) at the top of the screen. Alternatively, press the "F2" key to display the formula in the cell itself, then highlight it with the mouse pointer.

2. Press the "Ctrl" and "C" keys simultaneously to highlight the copied text.

3. Press the "Escape" key to take Excel out of the formula editing mode.

4. Click the cell that you would like to paste the formula into.

5. Press the "Ctrl" and "V" keys simultaneously to paste the formula into the selected cell. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each cell that you would like to paste the formula into.

References

• Tech Republic: Copy an Excel Formula Without Changing Its Cell References