To anchor a cell in Excel, edit its reference in a formula and add dollar signs before both the column and row, changing A1 to $A$1. You can also select the reference inside the formula and press F4 on Windows or Command + T on Mac. The anchored reference stays fixed when you copy or fill the formula.
The desktop steps apply to Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel 2024 on Windows and Mac. You can also type dollar signs in Excel for the web and the Excel apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android.
The short version
- Fix the whole reference: Use
$A$1to keep both the column and row fixed when copying a formula. - Fix one coordinate: Use
$A1for a fixed column orA$1for a fixed row. - Use a shortcut: Select the reference inside the formula before pressing F4 on Windows or Command + T on Mac.
- Skip shortcut trouble: Type the dollar signs directly when your keyboard intercepts the shortcut or you work in Excel for the web.
| Reference | What stays fixed | What can change when copied |
|---|---|---|
A1 | Neither coordinate | Column and row |
$A$1 | Column A and row 1 | Neither coordinate |
$A1 | Column A | Row |
A$1 | Row 1 | Column |
Anchor a cell by typing dollar signs
Select the cell containing your formula, then edit the formula in the cell or formula bar. Find the reference you want to keep fixed and insert $ before its column letter and row number. Press Enter, or Return on Mac, to commit the change.
For example, to multiply the value in B2 by a fixed value in A1, enter the following formula. If you need help building the calculation, review how to multiply with formulas and cells.
=B2*$A$1When you copy that formula down one row, it becomes =B3*$A$1. The B2 reference adjusts to the new row, while $A$1 keeps pointing to the same cell. Add the dollar signs inside the formula that uses the value.
Use the reference shortcut on your computer
In Excel for Windows, select the formula cell, then select the reference or range inside the formula bar. Press F4 repeatedly until the reference has the dollar signs you need. Press Enter to finish.
On Mac, edit the formula and select its reference, then press Command + T or F4 repeatedly to change the reference type. Press Return when finished. Select the reference inside the formula before using the shortcut, because Command + T also creates a table in another context.
In Excel for the web, open the workbook for editing, edit the formula, and type the dollar signs directly into the reference, then press Enter.
Keep only a row or column fixed
A dollar sign anchors the coordinate immediately after it. Use $A1 when your formula should always use column A but move through different rows. Use A$1 when your formula should always use row 1 but move through different columns.
Choose the reference type based on where you will copy the formula. A fully absolute reference, such as $A$1, keeps both coordinates fixed when copied across columns or down rows. A mixed reference leaves one coordinate free to adjust.
Anchoring a formula reference controls how that reference changes during copying or filling. To keep headings visible while scrolling, freeze rows or columns in Excel. Freezing panes controls the worksheet view.
Anchor ranges and references on another sheet
For a range that must stay fixed, edit the formula and anchor both endpoints. The following formula keeps the range from A1 through A10 fixed when you copy it. Adding dollar signs to only one endpoint leaves the other endpoint able to adjust.
=SUM($A$1:$A$10)To create a range with a fixed start and an adjusting end, enter the formula below. The first reference remains A1, while the second changes as you copy the formula. This lets the range grow as you copy the formula down successive rows.
=SUM($A$1:A1)A reference to another worksheet uses the same dollar sign pattern. Keep the sheet name and exclamation mark, then anchor the cell coordinates after them. For a fixed reference to A1 on Sheet2, enter the following formula, then press Enter, or Return on Mac, to commit it.
=Sheet2!$A$1Edit an anchored reference on your phone or tablet
In Excel on iPhone, iPad, or Android, double-tap the formula cell or tap the formula bar to edit it. Insert $ before the column and row to make a reference such as $A$1. Add just one dollar sign when you only need a fixed row or column.
Commit the edit using the app's entry control; on an Android phone, tap the check mark. The location of symbols on the keyboard depends on your device. Check that the resulting reference has a dollar sign before each coordinate you want to anchor.
Give a fixed cell a name
In Excel for Microsoft 365 or Excel 2024 on Windows and Mac, you can use a name instead of repeatedly typing an absolute address. Select the source cell, click the Name Box beside the formula bar, and type TaxRate. Press Enter, or Return on Mac, to create the name.
Names use absolute references by default. After naming the cell, enter the following formula to multiply B2 by its value. The name lets you describe what the fixed cell represents within your calculation.
=B2*TaxRateFix a shortcut that triggers another action
Start by editing the formula and selecting the reference inside it again. The shortcut needs that editing context to change the reference. If your keyboard still triggers a system action, type the dollar signs directly to complete the change.
On Mac, hold Fn or Globe while pressing F4 when the key is assigned to a system feature. Alternatively, use Command + T while editing the selected reference. Both shortcuts apply to Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel 2024 for Mac.
On a Microsoft keyboard with F Lock, press F Lock until its light is on. The Microsoft All-in-One Media Keyboard uses Fn + Caps Lock to toggle function-key locking, while supported Surface keyboards and Type Covers use Fn to enable the function row. These controls depend on your keyboard model. Return to the selected formula reference and press F4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does anchoring a reference protect the cell from editing?
Anchoring a reference does not protect its cell from editing. It controls how references adjust when you copy or fill formulas; worksheet protection controls editing.
Can the reference shortcut make several formulas absolute at once?
Pressing F4 does not convert an arbitrary selection of worksheet formulas in bulk. It changes the reference or range selected inside the formula you are editing.
How do you make an existing defined name absolute?
In Excel for Microsoft 365 or Excel 2024 for Windows, select Formulas > Defined Names > Name Manager. Select the name, then select Edit. Change Refers to to an absolute address such as =Sheet1!$A$1, substituting your sheet and cell. Select OK to apply the revised definition to formulas using that name.
Can INDIRECT keep an address fixed when a formula is copied?
Yes, =INDIRECT("A1") retrieves A1 through a literal address that stays unchanged when you copy the formula. You can use it in Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel 2024 on Windows and Mac, and for internal references in Excel for the web. Its behavior during worksheet structural changes differs from an ordinary absolute reference. External INDIRECT references require the source workbook to be open and are unsupported in Excel for the web.