To refresh Google Sheets in Chrome on Windows or Linux, press Ctrl + R to reload the spreadsheet tab. Reloading the page and recalculating formulas are different actions. To update your data, use the calculation setting, import trigger, or pivot table controls that match what you need to refresh.
The short version
- Refresh the page: In Chrome on Windows or Linux, press Ctrl + R to reload your spreadsheet tab.
- Update formulas: Choose Automatic calculation so changes to source cells recalculate dependent formulas.
- Calculate on demand: On a computer with Editor access, enable Manual calculation and click Calculate.
- Refresh imports: Website imports and
IMPORTRANGEhave separate formula refresh triggers. - Update a pivot table: Change cells within its source range, or expand that range when new rows fall outside it.
| What needs updating | Method | Limit or requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Browser page | Use the browser’s reload control | Does not guarantee fresh external data |
| Browser page without cached content | Use the browser’s cache bypass shortcut | Refreshes page content without forcing imports |
| Formula calculation setting | Select Automatic | Applies to the whole spreadsheet |
| Dependent formulas | Change a referenced source cell | Requires automatic calculation |
| Formulas on demand | Select Manual, then click Calculate | Requires a computer and Editor access |
| Website imports on demand | Re-enter the same complete import formula | Applies to IMPORTDATA, IMPORTHTML, and IMPORTXML |
| Website imports automatically | Keep the spreadsheet open | These three functions check approximately hourly |
| External imports awaiting authorization | Click Allow access | Requires Editor access |
| Imports blocked by an administrator | Ask your administrator to allow the URL | Applies to managed accounts with import restrictions |
IMPORTRANGE on demand | Re-enter the same complete formula | Requires an editable formula cell |
IMPORTRANGE after source changes | Update the source with the receiving document open | Wait for source calculations and propagation |
IMPORTRANGE automatically | Leave the receiving document open | Requires an authorized connection |
A new IMPORTRANGE connection | Click Allow Access at the connection prompt | Requires permission to access the source file |
| Ordinary pivot table results | Change included source cells | Updates automatically |
| New rows missing from a pivot table | Expand its source range | Use Edit, then Select data range |
| A spreadsheet that will not load | Wait five minutes, then reload | For a temporary editor or server error |
Reload your spreadsheet in the browser
With your spreadsheet tab open in desktop Chrome, select Reload this page at the top left. On Windows or Linux, you can instead press F5 or Ctrl + R. This reloads the page without guaranteeing that external data updates.
To reload Chrome while ignoring cached content, press Shift + F5 or Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows or Linux. On a Mac, press Command + Shift + R. These shortcuts bypass cached page content; imported values still follow their own refresh rules.
In Microsoft Edge on Windows, press F5 or Ctrl + R to reload. To ignore cached content, press Shift + F5 or Ctrl + Shift + R. On a Mac, use Command + R for a normal reload or Command + Shift + R to ignore cached content.
In Firefox on Windows or Linux, press F5 or Ctrl + R to reload. Press Ctrl + F5 or Ctrl + Shift + R to override the cache. On a Mac, use Command + R or Command + Shift + R, respectively. These shortcuts work unless your operating system intercepts them.
Safari on a Mac uses View > Reload Page, or Command + R. On a Chromebook with a top-row Refresh key, press it while the spreadsheet tab is active. ChromeOS also supports Ctrl + R to reload and Ctrl + Shift + R to reload without cached content.
In Chrome on Android, open the spreadsheet’s browser tab and tap More > Reload to the right of the address bar. In Chrome on iPhone, tap More > Reload; on iPad, tap Reload to the left of the address bar. These are browser controls, not recalculation controls in the native Sheets app.
Turn on automatic formula calculation
Open your spreadsheet on a computer, then click File > Settings > Calculation. Under Calculation Mode, select Automatic and click Save settings. This setting applies to the spreadsheet as a whole.
With automatic calculation enabled, edit a source cell referenced by the formula you want to update. Sheets recalculates formulas that depend on that input. Changing an unrelated blank cell does not necessarily trigger recalculation, so make your data change in the actual source cell.
Calculate formulas when you choose
To control when the document calculates, open File > Settings > Calculation on a computer. Under Calculation Mode, select Manual, then click Save settings. Click Calculate at the top of the screen whenever you want to calculate the document.
Manual calculation requires Editor access, and Google excludes the Sheets mobile app from this feature. If you are working in that app, open the spreadsheet on a computer with Editor access to use these controls. To return to automatic calculation, select Automatic in the same settings and click Save settings.
Refresh data imported from a website
For cells using IMPORTDATA, IMPORTHTML, or IMPORTXML, keep the spreadsheet open to let Sheets check for updates automatically. These functions check approximately hourly without requiring formula edits. For an update on demand, use the formula refresh trigger below.
Overwriting or deleting the formula cell removes its existing formula. In an editable cell containing one of these functions, overwrite it with the same complete formula, or delete the formula and re-enter it. Google describes both actions as refresh triggers for these imports.
An import waiting for authorization needs access before it can proceed. As an editor, open the spreadsheet in a desktop browser and click Allow access on the external-data warning banner. This applies to awaiting requests from IMPORTHTML, IMPORTXML, IMPORTFEED, IMPORTDATA, or IMAGE.
As an editor using Chrome on Android, you can also tap More > Desktop site, then select Allow access. If a managed account instead reports that your administrator has not allowed imports from the URL, contact your administrator to allow that URL. That restriction needs an access change before the import can proceed.
Update data linked with IMPORTRANGE
For an authorized IMPORTRANGE connection, update the source spreadsheet while the receiving spreadsheet is open. The receiving document refreshes after calculations in the source finish, although propagation delays can occur. You can also leave the receiving document open for automatic checks.
Overwriting the IMPORTRANGE cell replaces its existing formula. To trigger a reload yourself, overwrite the editable cell with the same complete IMPORTRANGE formula. Reloading the browser document does not trigger an IMPORTRANGE reload.
When a destination first accesses a source spreadsheet, enter the IMPORTRANGE formula and wait for the #REF! connection prompt. Click Allow Access to authorize the connection. If you lack source-file permission, open the source spreadsheet’s URL, request access, and wait for its owner to grant it.
Keep an ordinary pivot table up to date
In the Sheets web editor, an ordinary pivot table refreshes automatically when you change source cells included in its range. Update those source cells to update the results. This automatic refresh behavior applies to ordinary spreadsheet pivot tables.
If new rows fall outside the pivot table’s source range, expand the range to include them. Click Edit beneath the pivot table, then click Select data range and expand the range. The range needs to include the new rows for the pivot table to use them.
Fix a spreadsheet that will not load
For a temporary editor or server error, wait five minutes and reload the page. If errors persist, try another browser or device and check your internet connection. These steps address loading and connection failures without guaranteeing an external-data refresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does GOOGLEFINANCE still show an older value?
Google says GOOGLEFINANCE data can be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Allow the function to update automatically rather than expecting a page reload to provide current data.
How often does IMPORTFEED update?
Google lists a one-hour recalculation interval for IMPORTFEED. If you use this function, allow it to update automatically on that schedule.
How do you refresh AI or Gemini formula results?
On a computer, select cells containing existing =AI() or =Gemini() functions, then click Refresh and Insert. You need an eligible Google Workspace or Google AI plan, or applicable Workspace Experiments access.
What makes an Apps Script custom function recalculate?
Edit the custom-function formula or change a referenced cell passed directly as an argument. For example, changing A1 triggers a custom function entered as =MYFUNCTION(A1). Reading A1 only through getValue() inside the script does not establish that direct argument dependency.
Does SpreadsheetApp.flush() force all data to refresh?
Use SpreadsheetApp.flush() within an Apps Script function to apply queued spreadsheet changes immediately. It handles pending spreadsheet changes rather than serving as a force-recalculate-all or import-cache-reset command.
