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How to stop chart from updating automatically in Excel?

Author Sun Last modified

When you create a chart in Excel, it updates automatically whenever changes are made to its data source. However, in some cases, you may want the chart to remain static and not reflect these updates. This article provides three methods to stop a chart from updating in Excel.

Stop chart from updating by setting the Calculation Options from Automatic to Manual
Stop chart from updating by replacing the cell references with actual values
Easily stop chart from updating with an amazing tool

Stop chart from updating by setting the Calculation Options from Automatic to Manual

You can change the calculation options to manual to stop a chart from updating automatically in Excel. Please do as follows.

Click Formulas > Calculation Options > Manual. After this, changes to the original data range will no longer update the chart.

A screenshot showing the Calculation Options menu in Excel with Manual selected to stop chart updates

Note: After setting the calculation options from automatic to manual, not only the chart can’t update automatically, formulas won’t be calculated automatically after every change or update in worksheet.

Stop chart from updating by replacing the cell references with actual values

Actually the above method is not the first choice. To stop a chart from updating automatically, replace all cell references in each data series with actual values. Please do as follows.

1. Click on any data series in the chart to display the corresponding formula in the Formula Bar. See the below screenshot shown:

A screenshot of a data series formula in the Formula Bar of an Excel chart

2. Click on anywhere in the Formula Bar and then press the F9 key.
Now all cell references in the formula are replaced with actual values.

A screenshot showing cell references replaced with actual values in the Formula Bar of an Excel chart

3. Repeat the steps to replace the cell references of the other data series with actual values.

After replacing cell references of all data series with actual values in the chart, the chart will be stopped updating automatically.

Easily stop chart from updating with an amazing tool

Here highly recommended the Detach Chart tool of Kutools for Excel. This handy chart tool helps you easily detach the link between the chart and its data source to stop a chart from updating automatically in Excel.

Kutools for Excel offers over 300 advanced features to streamline complex tasks, boosting creativity and efficiency. Itegarate with AI capabilities, Kutools automates tasks with precision, making data management effortless. Detailed information of Kutools for Excel...         Free trial...

1. Select the chart that you want to stop updating. Click Kutools > Charts > Chart Tools > Detach Chart. See screenshot:

A screenshot of Kutools for Excel’s Detach Chart tool for breaking links between a chart and its data source

2. Then a Kutools for Excel dialog box pops up to remind you that the operation is done, click OK to close it.

It's that simple to stop a chart from updating automatically in Excel with this chart tool.

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