microsoft excel cannot calculate a formula. there is a circular reference in an open workbook, but the references that cause it cannot be listed for you.

Question

I have tried everything I can think of. Can you please help with the following error message:

microsoft excel cannot calculate a formula. there is a circular reference in an open workbook, but the references that cause it cannot be listed for you. Try editing the last formula you entered or removing it with the undo command

Answer 1

Hello,

I was having the same issue and went through all the steps and checked everything.  Then, I reread the article, and it said something about displaying circular references in the toolbar in the bottom left corner.  I looked and it displayed "Circular Reference E134."  I went to the cell and sure enough it was there!  I deleted the formula and then went through each tab (I had copied this sheet for months) and found the circular references and deleted them.  It was made most likely when I was clicking and dragging things.  I got so used to just clicking "Okay" that I stopped worrying about it...sometimes....hope this helps.

Answer 2

Hi Zoe,

Regarding to the error message, I request you check the suggestions shared in the official article: Remove or allow a circular reference to find the reference in the cell of problematic Excel worksheet. If you have already tried the suggestions in this official article,  you can refer to the additional suggestions in this article: How to Remove Circular References in Excel.

If the problem persists, you can feel free to share the sample problematic Excel workbook with us and please remove the personal information inside. We will try our best to help. Please also let us know the problematic worksheet name, you can upload the file to OneDrive and share the link with us.

Appreciate your understanding and stay safe! 😊

Best Regards,

Ivy

Answer 3

No offense but this is an absolutely useless response and I think your customers deserve better.  

The main issue here is FINDING the circular reference in question, not resolving it.  Please revert with usefull information on how to address the error message and find the formula causing it.

Answer 4

I tried to find the circular references in my workbook. But I could not find any circular references in any of the sheets.

Still I am getting the same error.

Answer 5

Thank you so much for this. The circular reference message was really annoying me and I couldn't find it anywhere. You helped me to solve it in 2 seconds. Happy Days!