How to scan an excel workbook for all formula errors
- Step 1Open the Error Locator — Go to the Error Locator tool. No options or settings appear because the scan is fixed — it always checks every cell on every sheet for every error type.
- Step 2Drop your workbook — Drag in or select your
.xlsxfile. The tool accepts Excel workbooks (.xlsx, and the picker also allows.xlsand.ods). It reads one file at a time — there is no batch mode. - Step 3Let the in-browser scan run — SheetJS parses the workbook locally and iterates every cell. Cells whose stored type is an error value (SheetJS type
e) are collected with their sheet name, address, and cached formula. - Step 4Read the error count and first results — The result panel shows the total error count and the first 10 errors as
[sheet] cell: errorType, with the cell address highlighted in red so problem locations stand out. - Step 5Copy or download the full report — Use Copy to grab the complete text report, or Download to save it. The full report lists every error — not just the first 10 — each as
[sheet] cell: errorType (=formula). - Step 6Fix in Excel, then re-scan — Open each flagged cell in Excel, correct the formula or source data, save, and re-upload to confirm the count drops to zero. The summary reads 'No formula errors found in this workbook.' when clean.
Excel error types the locator detects
All eight error values Excel can store in a cell. The locator flags a cell only when its stored type is a true error (SheetJS type e) — a literal text string like "#REF!" typed into a cell is NOT detected.
| Error | What it usually means | Common cause | Detected |
|---|---|---|---|
#REF! | A reference points at a cell that no longer exists | Deleted column/row, or a cut-and-pasted source | Yes |
#DIV/0! | Division by zero or by an empty cell | Denominator is 0 or blank before data lands | Yes |
#N/A | A lookup found no match | VLOOKUP / INDEX-MATCH key absent from the table | Yes |
#VALUE! | Wrong argument type for an operation | Math on text, or a space where a number is expected | Yes |
#NAME? | Excel doesn't recognise a name | Typo'd function, undefined named range, missing quotes | Yes |
#NUM! | Invalid numeric result | Result too large, or impossible math (e.g. negative SQRT) | Yes |
#NULL! | Intersection of ranges that don't intersect | Space used instead of a comma between ranges | Yes |
#GETTING_DATA | A cube/external value is still loading | Cached state from a data-connection refresh | Yes |
What the report contains
Output is a text report (outputType: report). The result panel previews the first 10 errors; the copyable/downloadable text contains every error including the formula.
| Field | Shown in panel preview | In downloadable report | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet name | Yes | Yes | Summary |
| Cell address | Yes (red) | Yes | B12 |
| Error type | Yes | Yes | #REF! |
| Formula | No | Yes | (=Sheet2!#REF!*1.2) |
| Total error count | Yes | Yes (header line) | Found 7 error cell(s) |
Tier limits for the Error Locator
The Error Locator is on the free tier. Limits are per-file (Excel family). Row limit is the workbook row count; the scan itself is fixed and has no per-tool options.
| Tier | Max file size | Max rows | Files per run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 5 MB | 10,000 | 1 |
| Pro | 50 MB | 100,000 | 5 |
| Pro + Media | 200 MB | 500,000 | 20 |
| Developer | 500 MB | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Cookbook
Real error reports from typical debugging sessions. Sheet and cell names are representative; the report format matches exactly what the tool produces.
A clean workbook returns zero errors
When no cell stores an error value, the report says so explicitly. This is the confirmation you want before sharing a file.
Report: No formula errors found in this workbook.
Mixed errors across two sheets
The header line gives the count and sheet span; each error line shows sheet, address, type, and the formula behind it. This is the full downloadable text.
Report: Found 4 error cell(s) across 2 sheet(s): [Inputs] C8: #DIV/0! (=B8/B7) [Inputs] C9: #DIV/0! (=B9/B7) [Summary] E14: #REF! (=Inputs!#REF!+10) [Summary] E15: #N/A (=VLOOKUP(D15,Rates,2,0))
Panel preview vs. full report
The on-screen panel previews up to 10 errors as [sheet] cell: errorType without the formula. To see formulas and every error beyond the tenth, use Copy or Download.
On-screen preview (first lines): 7 error cell(s) found. [Calc] B2: #VALUE! [Calc] B3: #VALUE! [Calc] B4: #NAME? Downloaded report (same cells, with formulas): [Calc] B2: #VALUE! (=B1+" ") [Calc] B3: #VALUE! (= "x"*2) [Calc] B4: #NAME? (=SUMM(B1:B3))
A #NAME? from a typo'd function
#NAME? covers misspelled functions and undefined named ranges. The formula in the report makes the typo obvious.
Report: Found 1 error cell(s) across 1 sheet(s): [Model] G22: #NAME? (=AVERGE(G2:G21))
Locate, then fix #REF! at the source
The locator finds and reports — it does not edit the file. After you find a #REF! you fix it in Excel, or convert volatile formulas to static values with the formula-to-value tool.
1. Error Locator report: [Summary] E14: #REF! (=Inputs!#REF!+10) 2. Open Inputs/E14 source in Excel, repoint the reference. 3. Re-upload to confirm: "No formula errors found in this workbook." (To freeze working formulas as values: /excel-tools/excel-formula-to-value)
Edge cases and what actually happens
Cell contains the literal text "#REF!"
Not detectedThe locator flags only cells whose stored type is a true error value (SheetJS type e). If someone typed #REF! as a text string into a cell, it stays text and is skipped. This is by design — text that looks like an error is not a formula error.
Errors are nested but the cell shows a number
Detected if cachedDetection reads the value Excel cached when it last calculated. If the saved cell type is an error, it is reported regardless of any formula wrapping. If IFERROR/IFNA swallowed the error so the cached value is a number, that cell is correctly not flagged.
Workbook was never recalculated before saving
May miss errorsSheetJS reads cached results stored in the file. If a workbook was saved with calculation off or by a tool that didn't write cached error values, a formula that would error in Excel may carry no error type and go undetected. Open and recalculate in Excel, save, then re-scan.
More than 10 errors exist
By designThe on-screen panel previews only the first 10 errors. The total count is still accurate, and the Copy/Download report contains every error. Always use the full report for workbooks with many errors.
File exceeds the free 5 MB or 10,000-row limit
Blocked on freeFree tier caps Excel files at 5 MB and 10,000 rows with 1 file per run. Larger models need Pro (50 MB / 100,000 rows) or higher. The limit is on the input file, not the number of errors found.
Multiple files dropped at once
One file onlyThe Error Locator processes a single workbook per run — there is no batch mode in the registry for this tool. Scan one file, read the report, then scan the next.
Hidden sheets contain errors
DetectedThe scan walks every sheet in SheetNames, including hidden and very-hidden sheets. Errors tucked away on a hidden tab are reported with that sheet's name, which is exactly where Go To Special would miss them.
Array-spill or dynamic-array error
Detected if cachedSpill errors (#SPILL!) are newer than the classic eight types; the locator reports whatever error string the file caches in the cell. If the saved type is an error value, it appears with the error text Excel stored; the classic eight are always named explicitly.
Password-protected / encrypted workbook
Cannot parseSheetJS cannot open an encrypted workbook without the password, so the scan can't run. Remove protection in Excel and re-upload. For testing protection-password strength, see /security-tools/password-entropy-auditor.
CSV file uploaded by mistake
Not supportedThis tool accepts Excel workbooks, not CSV — a CSV has no formulas or stored error types to find. If you need to inspect formulas or values, use the Excel-format tools; for plain CSV cleaning see the CSV tool family.
Frequently asked questions
Which error types does it detect?
All eight error values Excel can store in a cell: #NULL!, #DIV/0!, #VALUE!, #REF!, #NAME?, #NUM!, #N/A, and #GETTING_DATA. Each is reported with its exact cell address and the formula that produced it.
Does it scan every sheet or just the active one?
Every sheet. The scan walks all sheets in the workbook in one pass, including hidden sheets — unlike Excel's Go To Special, which only covers the active sheet.
Can it fix the errors automatically?
No. The Error Locator is diagnostic — it finds and reports errors with their addresses and formulas. You fix them in Excel. To freeze working formulas as static values afterward, use the formula-to-value tool.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The workbook is parsed entirely in your browser with SheetJS. Nothing is sent to a server, which is why it's safe for confidential financial models.
Why does the on-screen list stop at 10 errors?
The result panel previews the first 10 for a quick scan. The total count is always accurate, and the Copy/Download report contains every error, each with its formula.
Does the report show the formula behind each error?
Yes, in the downloadable/copyable text report — each error appears as [sheet] cell: errorType (=formula). The on-screen preview shows address and error type but not the formula.
Why does a cell that errors in Excel not show up here?
The scan reads the error value cached in the saved file. If the workbook wasn't recalculated before saving, or was written by a tool that didn't store the error type, the cell may carry no error type. Recalculate in Excel, save, and re-scan.
What if a cell just contains the text "#REF!"?
It's skipped. Only cells with a true error type are flagged; a literal text string that looks like an error is not a formula error.
What file formats can I upload?
Excel workbooks. The registry declares .xlsx; the file picker also allows .xls and .ods. CSV is not supported because it has no stored formulas or error types.
How big a workbook can I scan?
Free tier handles 5 MB and 10,000 rows, one file at a time. Pro raises that to 50 MB / 100,000 rows / 5 files, Pro + Media to 200 MB / 500,000 rows, and Developer to 500 MB with unlimited rows.
Does it find circular references too?
No — a circular reference isn't a stored cell error. Use the circular-reference finder for that, and the dependency map to trace what feeds a cell.
What other tools help after I find errors?
Use the formula explainer to understand a flagged formula in plain English, the format inspector to catch numbers-stored-as-text that cause #VALUE!, and the external-link auditor to find broken links behind #REF!.
Privacy first
Every JAD Excel tool runs entirely in your browser using SheetJS and ExcelJS. Your spreadsheets, formulas, and data never leave your device — verified by zero outbound network requests during processing.