How to fix a circular reference error In Excel Office 365? – [With Example]
Tags: circularreferenceerr, excelerrors
Published: 2021-10-30 05:50:04

---
title: How to fix a circular reference error In Excel Office 365? – [With Example]
published: true
date: 2021-10-29 09:58:44 UTC
tags: CircularReferenceErr,ExcelErrors
canonical_url: https://geekexcel.com/how-to-fix-a-circular-reference-error-in-excel-office-365-with-example/
---

In this blog post, you will learn what is **Circular Reference Error In Excel Office 365?** Why it occurs, and how to fix it. Let’s get into this post and see them one by one. Get an official version of ** MS Excel**  from the following link: [https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/excel](https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/excel)

## Circular Reference Error – Causes

- This errors occur when a **formula refers back to its own cell**.
- When a **workbook** contains **a circular reference** , **Excel** cannot automatically perform **calculations**.

## Practical Example

- For example, you have **created a sample data** with list of values in Excel.

![](https://geekexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Sample-data-68.png)<figcaption>Sample data</figcaption>

- Then, you need to use the below-given formula in **cell F7**.

```
=F5+F6+F7

```

![](https://geekexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Use-the-Formula-19.png)<figcaption>Use the Formula</figcaption>

- Now, it creates a **circular reference** because the formula, **entered in cell F7** , refers to **F7** and in turn throws off **other formula** results in **D7, C11, and D11**.

![](https://geekexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Error-output.png)<figcaption>Error Output</figcaption>

## How To Fix It?

- To resolve circular references, you need to **find the cells** with **incorrect cell references** and adjust as needed.
- The **circular references error** don’t appear **directly in the cell** as like other errors (#N/A, [#VALUE!](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-fix-value-error-in-excel-office-365-with-example/), etc.).
- Then, to find the **source of a circular reference error** , you have to use the **Error Checking menu** on the **Formulas tab** of the ribbon.

![](https://geekexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Click-on-Error-Checking-Menu-1024x197.png)<figcaption>Click on the Error Checking menu</figcaption>

- Now, you need to select the **Circular References item** to see the **source of circular references**.

![](https://geekexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Select-the-Circular-References-item-1024x238.png)<figcaption>Select the Circular References item</figcaption>

- Finally, the **circular reference**  **error** has been fixed and **other formulas** now return correct results.

![](https://geekexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Error-Fixed-Output.png)<figcaption>Error Fixed Output</figcaption>

## Verdict

In this short article, you can understand what is **Circular Reference Error In Excel Office 365?** And how to fix it with example. Drop your  **queries/suggestions**  in the comment section. Thanks for visiting **[Geek Excel.](https://geekexcel.com/)** Keep Learning!!

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