How to Update All External Links in Excel at Once
Question details
The user wants to update all external workbook links after they were not updated when an Excel workbook opened.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A workbook contains links to external Excel files that need their values updated together.
- Observed behavior
- The external links were not updated when the workbook opened.
Make sure you trust the linked source workbooks and can access their file locations. The Edit Links command and its location may vary by Excel version.
Update all linked workbooks through Edit Links
Use Edit Links to select all external workbook sources and update their values together.
Open the destination workbook in Excel, then select Data > Edit Links.
Click inside the list of linked sources and press Ctrl+A on Windows to select all links.
Click Update Values, wait for Excel to finish updating the selected links, and then click Close.
Work with Excel spreadsheets in WPS Office
WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative for working with spreadsheets in a familiar interface. Its Excel format compatibility helps you move existing files into WPS Spreadsheets, although it does not change how Microsoft Excel updates links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find external links in Excel?
In Excel versions with the Edit Links dialog, open the workbook and select Data > Edit Links to see its linked workbook sources.
Does Refresh All update every external workbook link?
Not necessarily. Data > Refresh All is intended for certain workbook connections. To update external workbook links, select the sources in Data > Edit Links and click Update Values.
Why can't Excel update a linked value?
The source file may have moved, been renamed, or be inaccessible. Check its location and access, then use Data > Edit Links to review the link and try Update Values again.
Why is Edit Links unavailable?
The workbook may not contain external workbook links, or your Excel version may present link management differently. Check the Data tab for its workbook link options.
