Paste Link via Paste Special #REF Error

Question

Recently whenever I try to reference a cell on a different tab via 'Paste Link' in 'Paste Special', Excel pastes an entire folder, file, and cell reference - resulting in a #REF error.

For example, suppose I have Excel File "EF" in my Sharepoint Folder "SF", and within EF I have worksheets X and Y. If I go into cell B1 in worksheet X and try to Paste Link cell A1 in worksheet Y, I get a #REF error in cell B1. When I click into cell B1 it says ='https://SF/[EF]Y'!$A$1 rather than just 'Y'!$A$1, which is what I am looking for.

This has not happened to me in the past and has only recently been occurring. Is this an Excel setting that I need to change? Thank you.

Answer 1

Dear [bc]_OM,

Good day! Thank you for posting to Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you.

As per your description, please don’t worry, we can work together to narrow down and resolve the situation.

Based on my test result, it seems that I cannot meet the same behavior as lie you desired above. I open Excel file in Excel desktop client app(from SharePoint online document library) and I also tested in Excel online and it work normal(cell reference).

Here is my test screenshot for your reference:

Excel desktop client app result:

Excel for web(online) result:

Here is my "'Paste Special" dialog box setting:

![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/5a60f63a-0340-49ca-ba38-e8387fa3d073?platform=QnA