Use this guide if Excel displays the formula (for example, =SUM(A1:A5)) in the cell instead of the calculated value.
Symptoms
A cell displays the formula text rather than the result.
Re-entering the formula does not fix it.
Multiple cells may be affected in the workbook.
Why This Happens
This typically occurs when:
The cell is formatted as Text, so Excel treats the formula as a string.
A leading apostrophe (') or space exists before the equals sign.
Excel is in Show Formulas mode.
The workbook is set to Manual calculation, so formulas do not recalculate automatically.
How to Resolve the Issue
1. The cell is formatted as Text
Select the affected cell(s).
Go to Home > Number Format.
Change the format to General.
Re-enter the formula:
Click into the formula bar, then press Enter, or
Press F2, then Enter (Windows), or
Press Control + U (Mac) to edit, then Return (depending on your Excel version), or simply retype the formula and press Enter.
2. There’s a leading apostrophe or space before the equals sign
Click the cell and check the start of the formula:
'=or=
Remove the apostrophe or the leading space so the formula starts with:
=
Press Enter to recalculate.
Need Help?
If you need assistance during go-live or rollout:
🔍 Visit the Help Center: https://www.cloudextend.io/support/
💬 Use the in-app chat (bottom-right of the support site)
✉️ Email cloudextend-support@celigo.com