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In Google Sheets on a computer, open File > Settings > Calculation, choose Automatic or Manual under Calculation Mode, then select Save settings. To allow formulas with circular references to calculate, enable iterative calculation in the same settings panel and configure its limits. These settings apply to the entire spreadsheet, so collaborators are affected too.
How do I change calculation settings in Google Sheets?
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Open the spreadsheet in Google Sheets on a computer.
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Select File > Settings > Calculation.
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Under Calculation Mode, choose Automatic or Manual.
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Select Save settings to apply the change.
The setting is stored with the spreadsheet rather than just your account. Anyone working in that file is subject to the selected calculation mode.
Automatic vs. Manual calculation
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Mode |
When results update |
Practical trade-off |
|---|---|---|
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Automatic |
Sheets applies changes as you make spreadsheet actions. |
Results update during normal editing without a separate recalculation step. |
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Manual |
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|
You control when calculation runs, but values may remain out of date until you calculate. |
Manual calculation is available to spreadsheet editors and is not available in the Google Sheets mobile app. If you use Manual mode, select Calculate before relying on formula results that may have changed.
How do I turn on iterative calculation?
Iterative calculation is for formulas involving circular references—where a formula depends, directly or indirectly, on its own result. In File > Settings > Calculation, use the Iterative calculation control to enable it, then set the maximum number of iterations and the convergence threshold for the formula. Save the settings.
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What the two limits mean
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Maximum iterations sets the ceiling on the number of calculation rounds Sheets can run for a circular reference.
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Convergence threshold lets Sheets stop earlier when successive results differ by less than the threshold, even if the maximum has not been reached.
Google described these controls in its December 6, 2016, iterative calculation announcement. The appropriate values depend on the formula and the output you need; validate results for your spreadsheet rather than assuming one set of numbers works for every circular calculation. Check the current Calculation panel for the available controls and values.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why is my formula not recalculating?
Changing calculation mode affects local formula recalculation; it does not guarantee that every result sourced from outside the spreadsheet refreshes immediately. Google documents separate refresh intervals for several data functions:
|
Function |
Documented refresh timing |
|---|---|
|
|
Every 30 minutes |
|
|
Every 1 hour |
|
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May be delayed by up to 20 minutes |
These are the refresh timings listed in Google Docs Editors Help; they are not an immediate-update guarantee. A formula can also require substantial work to recalculate: Google notes that editing a cell can cause Sheets to evaluate that cell and its dependent cells. Volatile functions such as TODAY, NOW, and RAND, along with long dependency chains, can add calculation work. See Google’s guidance on improving spreadsheet performance.
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