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To make a graph in Google Sheets on a computer, select the cells with your data and choose Insert > Chart. Sheets inserts a chart—Google’s name for the graph—and opens the chart editor so you can choose a chart type or adjust the data range. You can also download the chart as an SVG, PNG, or PDF, or remove the whole chart or just one of its parts.
How to make a graph in Google Sheets
- Open your spreadsheet in Google Sheets on a computer.
- Select the cells containing the data you want to graph. Include the relevant labels and values.
- Choose Insert > Chart. Google Sheets inserts a chart and opens the chart editor.
- In the chart editor, use the Setup options to choose a chart type or adjust the data range if the chart does not include the cells you intended.
For Google’s steps on adding and editing charts, see Add & edit a chart or graph.
Which chart type should you choose?
Choose a chart type based on what you want readers to see. Google’s chart guide describes these common choices:
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches| What you want to show | Chart type | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Change over time | Line | Showing a trend across dates or other ordered intervals. |
| Parts of a whole | Pie | Showing how categories make up a total. |
| The relationship between two numeric variables | Scatter | Plotting paired numerical values to look for patterns. |
| How values are distributed across ranges | Histogram | Grouping numerical data into buckets to show its distribution. |
| Comparisons across categories | Bar or column | Comparing values among named groups. |
Google Sheets also provides chart types such as combo, area, waterfall, radar, candlestick, organizational, treemap, geo, gauge, timeline, and table charts. See Google’s chart types and their intended uses for the full guide.
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How to fix the chart’s data range
If the chart is missing values, includes unwanted cells, or uses the wrong data, you can change its range after insertion.
- Double-click the chart to open the chart editor.
- Under Setup, find the data range setting.
- Update the range to include the cells you want represented.
You can also change the chart type in the chart editor rather than deleting the chart and starting over.
How to download a graph from Google Sheets
- Select the chart.
- Click More on the chart.
- Choose Download as.
- Select SVG, PNG, or PDF.
These are the formats listed in Google’s chart download instructions.
How to delete a chart or one of its parts
Removing the complete chart is different from removing an item within it, such as its title or legend. Select the object you want to remove before pressing Delete or Backspace.
Delete a chart element
To remove an individual item such as a title, legend, data label, or error bar, select that item in the chart and press Delete or Backspace.
Remove the complete chart
To remove the whole chart, select the chart itself—not an item inside it—and press Delete or Backspace. Google’s chart help explains deleting chart items at Add & edit a chart or graph.
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Optional: generate a chart with Gemini
Gemini can generate charts in Sheets for eligible users. Google notes that a chart generated this way does not respond to changes in the original data set, so use the standard Insert > Chart workflow when you need the chart to reflect later edits to its source data. Availability depends on eligibility. See Google’s Gemini in Sheets help.
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