Symptoms : A cell displays the formula, not the result. If your Excel formula is not working because a cell displays the function instead of the calculated value, it’s because one of the following reasons. Show Formulas mode is turned on.
As when the cell is in Text format, the cell will not calculate formulas automatically. So, click on the cell and of the Hom e, tab check the Number group > if it displays Text > then change it to General.
Why Excel is not calculating a result?
Every once in a while, you might find Excel behaving in a bizarre or unexpected way. One example is when you accidentally trigger the scroll lock feature. Another example is when one or more formulas suddenly stops working.
Another common question is “Why is my formula not valid in Excel?”.
Possible Reason 1 : This problem often arises because the cells containing the formula are formatted as ‘text’ instead of the ‘General’ type. This could have occurred because either: A text format has previously been applied to the cell.
Why can’t Excel read Numbers in my Formula?
It is formatted as text; when the cells are formatted as text excel cannot read numbers and return the result for your applied formula. Change the format of the cells to General or Convert to Numbers.
Excel formulas not working – a formula returns an error or wrong result. Excel formulas not updating – a formula displays an old value after the values of the dependent cells have been updated. Excel formulas not calculating – a cell displays a formula, not result .
Does the formula show the formula itself or the result?
Now take a look at the first possibility of formula showing the formula itself, not the result of the formula. Look at the below image where the SUM function in excel SUM Function In Excel The SUM function in excel adds the numerical values in a range of cells.