Are you trying to use Microsoft Excel, but are you getting the error message 'reference isn't valid'?
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application that is available for different operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It is also available for mobile devices such as iOS and Android.
It has many features such as macros, functions, data validation, and formatting options. This application can be used to create professional reports and to create documents that are easy to read.
Tech Support 24/7
Ask a Tech Specialist Online
Connect with the Expert via email, text or phone. Include photos, documents, and more. Get step-by-step instructions from verified Tech Support Specialists.
On this page, you will find more information about the most common causes and most relevant solutions for the Microsoft Excel error 'reference isn't valid'. Do you need help straight away? Visit our support page.
Let's get started
It has never been easier to solve error "reference isn't valid".
View list of solutions Contact an expertError information
-
Category
-
Error codereference isn't valid
-
ProductMicrosoft Excel
-
DeveloperMicrosoft
-
Operating systemWindows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
-
PlatformPC
-
First seenJuly 25, 2021
-
Verified-
How to solve Microsoft Excel error reference isn't valid
We've created a list of solutions which you can follow if you want to solve this Microsoft Excel problem yourself. Do you need more help? Visit our support page if you need professional support with Microsoft Excel right away.
Tech Support 24/7
Ask a Tech Specialist Online
Connect with the Expert via email, text or phone. Include photos, documents, and more. Get step-by-step instructions from verified Tech Support Specialists.
Verified solution
If you encounter an error while using Microsoft Excel, then you might need to check the memory in your computer or the settings of your internet connection. You might also need to make sure that you have the latest version of Microsoft Excel installed on your computer.
To fix this error, you need to try a few solutions.
Rename the file name
To rename the filename, you need to select the File tab and then select Rename. Then type in a new name for the file. You can also change the name of the file by using Notepad or another text editor.
Remove any brackets
When you try to open an Excel file, you might get an error like this: "This file has unsaved changes and cannot be opened". If this happens, then make sure that you have no bracket at the end of your file name.
If there are any brackets on your file name, then this error will occur when you try to open it.
Make sure your file is on the local drive
This is a common problem when opening files in Microsoft Excel. It might happen when you open a new Excel document or save a new Excel document.
This is because Microsoft Excel requires that all files should be saved locally for them to work properly. So if you have an Excel file saved on your internet browser, then it will not work properly.
To fix this problem, you need to make sure that the file is saved on your local drive.
Get rid of the non-existent range
If you are getting an error message like "Invalid name for a range of cells", then it means that there is a range name in your Excel document which does not exist in the file. To fix this problem, you need to make sure that all named ranges are valid in your Excel document.
Make sure all named range is valid
If there are any errors when opening a file, then it means that there are still some invalid named ranges in your Excel document. To fix this problem, you need to make sure that all named ranges are valid in your Excel document.
Have you found a solution yourself, but it is not in the list? Share your solution in the comments below.
