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A spreadsheet can still exist in Drive while an AppSheet table points to an old file location, a worksheet that has changed, or a source the app can no longer access. And even when the file and tab are available, Ref columns can still contain keys that no longer identify the intended rows. Check these as separate layers: first the table’s source and worksheet, then its structure and any row relationships.
Audit every table’s configured spreadsheet source
In the AppSheet editor, open the app’s table settings and inspect the storage details for each table. Record the provider or data source, source path, worksheet name or qualifier, and source ID when available. The precise labels may vary as the editor changes; the goal is to identify the actual configured location and tab for each table.
Do not assume one app has one spreadsheet reference. It may use several worksheets in one spreadsheet, worksheets in separate spreadsheets, or a mixture of spreadsheets and other data sources. AppSheet’s Manage data sources documentation describes data-source management.
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- Inspect that table’s storage or source settings and note its provider, path, worksheet qualifier, and source ID where shown.
- Repeat for every table, then compare each configured location and tab with the live file and worksheet in the storage provider.
Why AppSheet may not find a spreadsheet
A 404 is a location-and-access clue, not proof that the spreadsheet was permanently deleted. Google AppSheet Help lists a deleted, renamed, or moved document—and lack of access—as possible causes. A file with a new name or location may still be present while the app retains an outdated source path. See Errors with spreadsheets.
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- 401: AppSheet lacks permission to work on behalf of a user.
- 403: The storage provider denied access.
- 404: The document may not exist at the configured location, may have been renamed or moved, or may not be accessible to the relevant account.
Check both sides of the problem: whether the configured path and worksheet still match the live file, and whether the account AppSheet uses can access that file through its provider. These status codes point to different investigations, so do not treat them as interchangeable “broken link” errors.
Update table sources after a move or rename
When a spreadsheet moves, update the source location for every AppSheet table that uses it, and confirm each table’s worksheet qualifier. AppSheet’s documented move workflow involves changing the table’s source path and worksheet qualifier; do not assume a rename or move will always be repaired automatically. If the current editor offers a save-and-verify option, use it after the change to check external dependencies. See Manage data sources and the team guidance in Manage team data.
For teams, shared data sources help keep data available independently of one individual’s account and can make ownership changes easier. Transferring an app and migrating its data are not the same operation: a shared source can make an app transfer easier without moving the data itself. If an individual account is being closed, account ownership and access still need to be handled before closure.
Check the worksheet’s columns and regenerate structure when needed
A table can point to the right file and tab but still have a schema mismatch after columns are added, removed, or renamed. Compare the spreadsheet’s current columns with the structure AppSheet has extracted for the table. When the extracted columns are wrong or AppSheet presents a warning that calls for action, regenerate the table structure, then inspect app formulas, views, and other configuration that depend on changed columns.
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AppSheet says it attempts to detect—and sometimes automatically fix—spreadsheet structure issues, but its documentation also describes warnings and manual regeneration or update steps. Automatic repair is not a guarantee. See Errors with spreadsheets and Regenerate table structure.
Check Ref columns separately from file paths
A Ref column is a row relationship, not a spreadsheet link. It stores the key-column value of a row in another table; AppSheet uses that value to retrieve the referenced row. The source path tells AppSheet where a table’s data lives, while the Ref value identifies a row in a target table. Either layer can fail while the other is intact. See References between tables.
If a dropdown or related-row link is wrong, inspect the Ref column’s target table, the target table’s key column, and the values stored in the Ref column. The label users see may differ from the key AppSheet uses, so a displayed name is not necessarily the stored relationship value.
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- If the table opens but a related row is missing or incorrect, investigate the target key and stored Ref values.
Remove dependent tables before deleting a data source
Before deleting a data source, remove its related tables from existing apps as appropriate. Google AppSheet Help warns: “Before you delete a data source, be sure to remove any related tables from existing apps. Otherwise, the apps may no longer execute as expected.” See Manage data sources.
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