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How to Use IMPORTRANGE to Pull Data from Another Google Sheet

Tap each step to follow along in order.

  1. Learn the basic IMPORTRANGE syntax

    The format is =IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "range") -- the first argument is the full URL of the sheet you're pulling from, and the second is the cell range, like "Sheet1!A1:D10".

  2. Copy the source spreadsheet's URL

    Open the original Google Sheet you want to pull data from and copy the full URL from the address bar.

  3. Enter the formula in the destination sheet

    In the cell where you want the data to appear, type =IMPORTRANGE(the copied URL, "Sheet name!range") and press Enter.

  4. Click to grant access

    The first time the formula runs, the cell shows a #REF! error along with a button asking for permission -- click it, then click "Allow access" to connect the two sheets.

  5. Troubleshoot a persistent #REF! error

    If the error doesn't go away, double-check that the URL is correct, that the sheet name is spelled exactly right, and that you actually have viewing access to the source sheet -- that resolves most #REF! errors.

  6. Combine it with QUERY for more control

    Wrapping the data IMPORTRANGE pulls in with a QUERY function lets you show only the columns or rows that match specific conditions, which makes the imported data much more useful.

When IMPORTRANGE is genuinely useful

If different teams keep their own separate spreadsheets, IMPORTRANGE lets you pull the source data into one combined report in real time, without ever copying and pasting -- so the report always reflects the latest numbers.

A couple of things that trip people up

If your spreadsheet's language or region setting uses a semicolon instead of a comma to separate function arguments, write the formula as =IMPORTRANGE("url";"range") instead. Also, IMPORTRANGE only refreshes when the destination sheet is open or recalculated, and pulling from many large ranges at once can noticeably slow a spreadsheet down.

Frequently Asked Questions

I granted access but the data still isn't showing up -- what now?

Double-check the range for typos, and make sure any sheet name that contains a space is wrapped in single quotes.

Does the linked sheet update automatically when the source changes?

Yes -- edits to the source sheet usually show up in the connected sheet almost immediately, though it can occasionally need a manual refresh.