Formula Errors

How to Fix XLOOKUP Changing to FDSAUDITLINK and Returning #REF in Excel

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where an XLOOKUP formula in an Excel workbook is unexpectedly replaced by an internal FDSAUDITLINK function, causing a #REF! error.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening an existing Excel Binary Workbook (XLSB) that previously contained functioning XLOOKUP formulas.
Observed behavior: Upon reopening the file, the XLOOKUP functions are automatically replaced with FDSAUDITLINK, resulting in #REF! errors, and named ranges may also unexpectedly change.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, create a copy of your corrupted XLSB workbook and store it safely so you do not risk losing any remaining intact data during the recovery process.

Solution 1Recommended

Save the Workbook as an XLSM or XLSX File

Converting the binary workbook (XLSB) into a standard XML-based format (XLSM or XLSX) often resolves format-specific corruption that triggers the FDSAUDITLINK error.

This error is primarily observed in XLSB (Excel Binary Workbook) files. Re-saving the file in the modern XML-based formats can clear the internal corruption causing the XLOOKUP function to break.

Open the workbook

Open your corrupted XLSB file in the latest version of Microsoft Excel.

Navigate to Save As

Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the ribbon, then select 'Save As' from the left-hand menu.

Change the file format

In the file format dropdown menu, select 'Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm)' if your file contains macros, or 'Excel Workbook (*.xlsx)' if it does not.

Save and test

Click 'Save', close Excel completely, and then reopen the newly saved file to verify if the XLOOKUP formulas remain stable.

Macro Warning: If your original XLSB file contains VBA macros, you must save it as an XLSM file. Saving it as an XLSX file will permanently remove the macros.

Solution 2

Transfer Data and Formulas to a New Workbook

If changing the file extension does not resolve the issue, the workbook's internal structure may be deeply corrupted. Rebuilding it in a fresh file is the safest fallback.

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Switch to WPS Office for Stable Spreadsheet Management

If Excel continues to corrupt your advanced formulas and workbook structures, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a powerful, lightweight, and completely free alternative that seamlessly handles complex functions like XLOOKUP without unexpected corruption errors.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your computer.
2. Open your spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your XLSB, XLSM, or XLSX file.
3. Work without interruptions: Enter your XLOOKUP formulas and save your file confidently, knowing your data remains stable.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats including XLSX, XLSM, and XLSBNatively supports advanced lookup functions like XLOOKUP and XMATCHLightweight application that opens large data files faster than traditional office suitesCompletely free to use with an intuitive, familiar tabbed interface

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does FDSAUDITLINK mean in Excel?

FDSAUDITLINK is generally an internal artifact or a reference to a third-party add-in function that accidentally overwrites native formulas (like XLOOKUP) when an Excel file's internal structure—particularly in the XLSB binary format—becomes corrupted.

Why do my named ranges also break or change in my XLSB file?

Because XLSB files store data in a binary format rather than XML, structural corruption can cause widespread issues across the file. This corruption often manifests as broken formulas, unexpected function name changes, and distorted or deleted named ranges.

Can I permanently fix a corrupted XLSB file?

You can often salvage the file by saving it in an XML-based format (XLSM or XLSX). If the corruption persists after changing the format, you will need to manually copy your clean data into a brand-new workbook.

Excel & Data Problems