How to Link Excel Sheets: 2 Quick Ways

Understand how to link a worksheet in Excel

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: May 11, 2026 Fact Checked

• Using a Formula
|
• Using a Hyperlink
|
• Video
|
• Q&A

|Show more |Show less

Linking will dynamically pull data from a sheet into another, and update the data in your destination sheet whenever you change the contents of a cell in your source sheet. This wikiHow teaches you how to link data between multiple worksheets in a Microsoft Excel workbook using a Windows or Mac computer.

Quick Guide for Linking Sheets in Excel

To link sheets in Microsoft Excel, click an empty cell in your destination sheet. Type an equal sign (=) and click on the source sheet. Click the source cell in the source sheet, and hit Enter. Check to make sure that the destination cell's formula has been altered.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Formula

1. 
   1
   Click your destination sheet from the sheet tabs. You will see a list of all your worksheets at the bottom of Excel. Click on the sheet you want to link to another worksheet.

   • If you don't already have a Microsoft Excel workbook open, do so now.
2. 
   2
   Click an empty cell in your destination sheet. This will be your destination cell. When you link it to another sheet, the data in this cell will be automatically synchronized and updated whenever the data in your source cell changes.
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3. 
   3
   Type = in the cell. It will start a formula in your destination cell.
4. 
   4
   Click your source sheet from the sheet tabs. Find the sheet where you want to pull data from, and click on the tab to open the worksheet.
5. 
   5
   Check the formula bar. The formula bar shows the value of your destination cell at the top of your workbook. When you switch to your source sheet, it should show the name of your current worksheet, following an equals sign, and followed by an exclamation mark.

   • Alternatively, you can manually write this formula in the formula bar. It should look like =<SheetName>!, where "<SheetName>" is replaced with the name of your source sheet.
6. 
   6
   Click a cell in your source sheet. This will be your source cell. It could be an empty cell, or a cell with some data in it. When you link sheets, your destination cell will be automatically updated with the data in your source cell.

   • For example, if you're pulling data from cell D12 in Sheet1, the formula should look like =Sheet1!D12.
7. 
   7
   Click ↵ Enter on your keyboard. This will finalize the formula, and switch back to your destination sheet. Your destination cell is now linked to your source cell, and dynamically pulls data from it. Whenever you edit the data in your source cell, your destination cell will also be updated.
8. 
   8
   Click your destination cell. This will highlight the cell.
9. 
   9
   Click and drag the square icon in the lower-right corner of your destination cell. This will expand the range of linked cells between your source and destination sheets. Expanding your initial destination cell will link the adjacent cells from your source sheet.

   • You can drag and expand the range of linked cells in any direction. This could include the entire worksheet, or only parts of it.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using a Hyperlink

1. 
   1
   Select a cell for the hyperlink. If you don't already have your Microsoft Excel workbook open, do so now.

   • You can use an empty cell or a cell with data in it. If using a cell with data, the hyperlink will use the data as its text unless you change it.
2. 
   2
   Click Insert. You can find this tab at the top of Excel.
3. 
   3
   Click Link. This is in the top toolbar, in the Links section. A new menu will open.

   • If you're using the web version of Excel, you can find it between Slicer and New Comment.
4. 
   4
   Click Insert Link. You can find this at the bottom of the pop-up menu. The Insert Hyperlink window will open.
5. 
   5
   Click Place in This Document. This option is in the left panel.

   • If the data is on a different sheet, click Existing File or Web Page instead. You'll need to find and select the file you want to link.
6. 
   6
   Enter the cell you want to link to. This goes in the Type the cell reference field at the top.

   • For example, if you want to link to column H, row 4, you would type H4.
   • Alternatively, select a place listed under Or select a place in this document.
7. 
   7
   Enter the hyperlink text in the "text to display" field. This is the text that will appear for your hyperlink. If you don't enter a name, it will default to its location (if empty) or the cell's data.

   • If you don't want to change the hyperlink text, skip this step.
8. 
   8
   Click OK. The hyperlink will be created in the cell. When you click the hyperlink, you will be redirected to the set location.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  In the above linking of rows to multiple sheets, how do I keep the rows in the separate sheets together when sorting?

  

  Azmat najeeb

  Community Answer

  1. Open a workbook. By default, it has three sheets. If you want more, you can insert more sheets according to your requirements. 2. Press the CTRL key and select the sheet you want to group. Your sheets are now grouped. The changes made to one will replicate on the others.

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  Thank you for your feedback.
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  Not Helpful 3 Helpful 10
• Question

  What if I want the destination cell to add or subtract from the source cell?

  

  Azmat najeeb

  Community Answer

  A cell reference combines the column letter and row number, such as A1 or F345. 1.Type a number in cells C1 and D1. For example, a 5 and a 3. 2. In cell E1, type an equal sign (=) to start the formula. 3. Type "C1+D1" (without the quotes) to complete your formula. If your destination cell E1 is in another sheet, then use "=sheet1!C1+sheet1!D1". If the cell D1 is in the same sheet as E1, then use "=sheet1!C1+D1".

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 7 Helpful 7
• Question

  Can you link a completely different Excel file to another Excel file, or does it work only if it's in the same file?

  

  Holly Hort

  Community Answer

  In Microsoft Excel, you can link data from one Excel file to another, even if they are in separate files. This is commonly done using the "External Links" feature.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 5 Helpful 5

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