How to Automatically Sync Data Between Google Sheets (Without Copy\/Paste)

Tired of manually copying and pasting data between Google Sheets like a spreadsheet peasant? It's time to level up your game with the IMPORTRANGE Jutsu. This ninja trick lets you effortlessly pull data from one sheet into another, automatically updating whenever the source changes. It's like having a spreadsheet clone army at your disposal, freeing you from tedious busywork and empowering you to focus on what truly matters - analyzing data and making informed decisions.


In this guide, we'll break down the IMPORTRANGE Jutsu step-by-step, revealing how to harness its power to streamline your workflow and impress your boss with your newfound spreadsheet mastery. Get ready to ditch the copy-paste drudgery and become the office spreadsheet ninja!

1. The IMPORTRANGE Jutsu

Forget manually copying and pasting data between spreadsheets. The IMPORTRANGE function lets you pull data from one sheet into another, automatically updating whenever the source changes. It's like having a spreadsheet clone army at your disposal.

Step by Step instructions

Step 1: Prepare Your Source Sheet

  • Open the Google Sheet that contains the data you want to import (this is your "source sheet").
  • Make sure the sharing settings for this sheet allow access to the people or accounts that will be viewing the imported data in your destination sheet.

Step 2: Open Your Destination Sheet

  • Open the Google Sheet where you want the data to appear (this is your "destination sheet").
  • Select the cell where you want the imported data to start.

Step 3: Enter the IMPORTRANGE Formula

  • In the selected cell, type the following formula:

=IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "range_string")

Replace the placeholders with the actual details:

  • spreadsheet_url: This is the full URL of your source sheet. You can find it in the address bar of your browser when the source sheet is open.
  • range_string: This specifies the range of cells you want to import from the source sheet. It should be in the format "Sheet_name!A1:Z100", where:
  • Sheet_name is the name of the sheet within the source spreadsheet (e.g., "Sheet1", "Data", etc.).


A1:Z100 represents the starting and ending cells of the range you want to import.


Example: If you want to import data from cells A1 to Z100 in Sheet1 of a spreadsheet with the URL "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1234567890abcdefghijk", your formula would look like this:

=IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1234567890abcdefghijk", "Sheet1!A1:Z100")

Step 4: Authorize the Connection

After entering the formula, you might see a #REF! error with a message saying "You need to connect these sheets."


Click on the error message and then click the "Allow access" button to establish the connection between the two sheets.

Step 5: You're a wizard!

The data from your source sheet will now appear in your destination sheet. Any changes you make to the data in the source sheet will be automatically reflected in the destination sheet.

#ProTips

  • You can import data from multiple source sheets into a single destination sheet.
  • Use named ranges in your source sheet to make your IMPORTRANGE formulas more readable and easier to manage.
  • Be mindful of the sharing settings for both your source and destination sheets to ensure data security.


With the IMPORTRANGE Jutsu in your arsenal, you'll be a Google Sheets ninja in no time!

Eliminating Busywork One Proven App at a Time.