Find Goal Seek for a Formula in Excel on iPad or Excel for the Web
Question details
Users need to find and use the Goal Seek tool for a worksheet formula when it is not visible in Excel on an iPad or in Excel for the web.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- iPadOS and web browser
- Scenario
- The user wants to change one input cell until a formula reaches a target result.
- Observed behavior
- Goal Seek is not shown in Excel for the web or the Excel app on iPad.
Make sure the worksheet contains a formula cell that calculates from an editable input cell. To use Goal Seek, open the workbook in the desktop Excel application for Windows or Mac.
Use Goal Seek in the desktop Excel app for Windows or Mac
Use this method when Goal Seek is unavailable in Excel for the web, on iPad, or on Android.
Goal Seek is available in desktop versions of Microsoft Excel for Windows and Mac. It is not available in Excel for the web, Excel for iOS or iPadOS, or Excel for Android.
In Excel for the web, select Open in Desktop App. On an iPad, save or access the workbook through OneDrive, then open it in Microsoft Excel for Windows or Mac.
In desktop Excel, select Data on the ribbon.
Select What-If Analysis in the Forecast or Data Tools area of the Data tab, then choose Goal Seek.
In the Goal Seek dialog box, enter the formula cell in Set cell, enter the desired result in To value, select the editable input cell in By changing cell, and choose OK.
Use Goal Seek for Spreadsheet Formulas in WPS Spreadsheets
WPS Spreadsheets provides a desktop workflow for adjusting an input value until a formula reaches a specified result. Open the workbook in WPS Office and use the What-If Analysis tools to run Goal Seek without relying on a browser or mobile-only Excel interface.
- 1. Open the workbook in WPS Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office, select Spreadsheets, and open the .xlsx or .xls workbook that contains the formula.
- 2. Check the formula and input cells: Select the result cell and confirm that it contains a formula linked to the value cell you want to change.
- 3. Open What-If Analysis: On the Data tab, select What-If Analysis and choose Goal Seek.
- 4. Enter the goal settings: Specify the formula result cell, enter the target value, choose the changing input cell, and select OK to calculate the result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Goal Seek missing from Excel on my iPad?
Excel for iOS and iPadOS does not include Goal Seek. Open the same workbook in the desktop Excel app on Windows or Mac to access it from Data > What-If Analysis > Goal Seek.
Can I use Goal Seek in Excel for the web?
No. Excel for the web does not provide the Goal Seek command. Select Open in Desktop App, then use Data > What-If Analysis > Goal Seek in desktop Excel.
Which versions of Excel support Goal Seek?
Goal Seek is supported in the desktop Microsoft Excel applications for Windows and Mac. It is not available in Excel for the web, iOS/iPadOS, or Android.
What cells do I need before running Goal Seek?
You need a formula cell that returns a calculated result and a separate editable cell used by that formula. Goal Seek changes the editable cell until the formula cell reaches your target value.
Where is Goal Seek in WPS Spreadsheets?
Open the workbook in WPS Spreadsheets, select the Data tab, choose What-If Analysis, and then select Goal Seek. Enter the result cell, target value, and changing cell in the dialog box.
