Spreadsheet answers, step by step
Clear, step-by-step tutorials for Google Sheets. No fluff: every guide shows exactly where to click and which formula to type.
Browse the Google Sheets formulas cheat sheet →
New: build a formula or fix an error with the free formula builder →
Google Sheets
All Google Sheets tutorials →Fix QUERY Errors in Google Sheets: "Unable to parse query string"
"Unable to parse query string for Function QUERY parameter 2": NO_COLUMN, ADD_COL_TO_GROUP_BY_OR_AGG, PARSE_ERROR, or "Query completed with an empty output"? Each QUERY error tested, with its fix.
Google SheetsSUM Not Working in Google Sheets? Why It Returns 0 and How to Fix It
Google Sheets SUM returns 0 or the wrong total? Your numbers are probably stored as text. How to spot them (left-aligned, ISTEXT) and fix them with VALUE. Tested.
Google SheetsGoogle Sheets Shows the Formula Instead of the Result: How to Fix It
Google Sheets shows =SUM(...) instead of the result? Show formulas is on (Ctrl+`) or there's a space or apostrophe before the =. Both tested, plus the Excel "fix" that doesn't apply.
Google SheetsFix "You are trying to edit a protected cell or object" in Google Sheets
"You are trying to edit a protected cell or object. Please contact the spreadsheet owner to remove protection"? Why Google Sheets blocks you, how to see which cells are locked, and how the owner can let you edit. Tested.
Google SheetsHow to Fix the #NUM! Error in Google Sheets
#NUM! means a number is invalid for the function: "Function SQRT parameter 1 value is negative", "parameter 2 value is out of range", a too-large result and more. Each message, tested, with its fix.
Google SheetsFix "You cannot convert an alternating color range without a header format into a table"
Why Google Sheets says "You cannot convert an alternating color range without a header format into a table. Please specify one and try again", and two quick ways to fix it.
Templates
All Templates tutorials →Free Habit Tracker Template for Google Sheets (Weekly)
A free weekly habit tracker for Google Sheets: tick boxes for each day, cells that turn green, a weekly goal per habit, progress bars and an overall week score.
TemplatesFree Savings Goals Tracker Template for Google Sheets
Track several savings goals in Google Sheets with this free template: progress bars, how much is left, months to your target date and how much to save each month.
TemplatesFree Timesheet Template for Google Sheets (Hours and Overtime)
A free weekly timesheet for Google Sheets: enter start and end times and breaks, and get hours worked per day, total hours, overtime and total pay automatically.
TemplatesFree Expense Tracker Template for Google Sheets
Track every expense in Google Sheets with this free template: a category drop-down, automatic totals and percentages per category, this month's spending and a count of expenses.
TemplatesFree Monthly Budget Template for Google Sheets
A free, simple monthly budget template for Google Sheets: planned vs actual income and expenses, automatic totals, differences in red when you overspend, and a summary of what's left over.
TemplatesFree To-Do List Template for Google Sheets (with Checkboxes)
A free to-do list template for Google Sheets: tick boxes that cross out finished tasks, due dates, an automatic Done / Overdue / To do status and a progress bar.