How to Link Two Cells in Excel
If you are an accountant or other office worker, you may have to keep data for your company. Sometimes, the business you work for may encourage you to use software like Excel.
Excel can feel overwhelming at first, but there are several tools to help save you time. One of these features is the ability to learn how to link two cells in Excel.
When you learn to link two cells, you will save time and avoid costly mistakes. You can copy data between two columns, worksheets, or workbooks. Any changes you need to make will automatically adjust.
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The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide | How to Link Two Cells in Excel
This step-by-step guide will help you learn how to link two cells in Excel.
How to Link Two Cells in Excel
There are a few methods available to learn how to link two cells in Excel, as seen below. Each is in the outline below.
Link Two Cells Using the Ampersand Symbol
The first method you can use to link two cells is through the use of the ampersand symbol. This icon represents the word “and.” Use the steps below to start this process.
1. Open a pre-existing Excel worksheet or input new data.
2. Click on an empty cell. It will contain the combined data.
3. Type “=” in the empty cell.
4. Click on the first cell you want to use in the combination.
5. Type “&.” Follow the symbol with two quotation marks around an empty space.
6. Choose the second cell you want to use in the combination.
7. Press “Enter” on your keyboard.
Link Two Cells Using CONCAT
Excel has another built-in feature you can use to combine data called “CONCAT.” This function replaced the “CONCATENATE” function. Use the steps below to begin this method.
1. Choose an empty cell in a pre-existing spreadsheet.
2. Use your keyboard to type “=CONCAT(.” exactly. You do not need quotation marks.
3. Choose the first cell you want to add to the combination.
4. Type a comma to separate the first from the second cell.
5. Add a space and select the second cell you want to use.
6. Close CONCAT by adding closing parentheses.
7. Press “Enter” on the keyboard.
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Link Two Cells with a Hyperlink
You can easily learn how to link two cells in Excel with a hyperlink. There is a tool in Excel to add these links. The required steps are in detail below.
1. Open a worksheet with preexisting data.
2. Create a new column for your linked cells.
3. Click on the first empty cell in the new column.
4. Right-click your mouse.
5. Click “Link.”
6. Wait for the “Insert Hyperlink” pop-up window to appear.
7. Click “Place in This Document” on the left side of the screen.
8. Type the corresponding cell in the field labeled “Type the Cell Reference.”
10. Choose the option labeled “Show [Data]” in the “Text to Display” field.
11. Press “Ok.”
12. Repeat the process for the remaining cells in the new column.
Link Rows in Excel
You do not have to resort to only linking individual cells in Excel. You can save a significant amount of time by combining entire rows of data. Learn how with the information presented to you below.
- Open a new workbook in Excel.
- Enter your data in the first row on the worksheet.
- Click the row’s number on the left side of the screen.
- Press “Ctrl+C” on your keyboard to copy the row.
- Right-click the number of the row you want to use for linked cells.
- Press “N” to link the cells.
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Link Rows in Excel from Different Workbooks
You can also learn to link rows from different workbooks with the below information.
- Open the first workbook and start a new row of data.
- Keep the first workbook open and start a second.
- Enter an equal sign in the first cell in the appropriate row of the second workbook.
- Open the first workbook.
- Click the number associated with the row.
- Press “Enter.”
- Wait for your second workbook to open again.
- Use the fill tool to select as many cells in the row as you need.
- Wait for the information to populate.
A Simple Formula for Linking Two Cells in Excel
The hyperlink function is different from inserting a link. You will type a formula into the new column you create. Read the below information to learn how to link two cells in Excel with the hyperlink function.
1. Open a preexisting worksheet. Create a new column for linked cells.
2. Click on the first empty cell in the column you created.
3. Write out =HYPERLINK(“#C5”, “Sarah”)
4. Press “Enter.”
5. Repeat the process for the rest of the cells. You will replace the cell number and the category in the formula every time.
Example of Using this Formula
You likely noticed the use of the name Sarah in the above steps. When using this formula, you could list out every person’s salary. You will need to enter the specific topic for the data each time you use it.
The first cell you want to link will not always be C5. It all depends on where you start your data in Excel. Everyone builds their worksheets differently.
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How to Link Multiple Cells in Excel From Another Worksheet
Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool in that you can learn how to link multiple cells in Excel from another worksheet. You do not have to manually change all of your data on every document. Use the below steps to link your cells between worksheets.
- Open two worksheets. Make a column on the second one for your linked cells.
- Click on the first cell in the new column on the second worksheet.
- Type the equal sign.
- Click on the first worksheet.
- Choose the first cell containing data on the first worksheet.
- Press “Enter.”
- Look at the formula bar on both worksheets. They should match.
- Drag the fill handle to cover the entire column on the second worksheet.
- Change one of the data points on the first worksheet, ensuring it reflects on the second.
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How to Link Multiple Cells from Different Workbooks
It is not only possible to learn how to link multiple cells in Excel from another worksheet. You can also perform this process with separate workbooks. Use the steps below to link cells from two different Excel windows.
- Open two separate workbooks. One should contain your data, and the other will have your linked cells.
- Click on the second workbook to open your column of linked cells. Type the equal sign in the first space.
- Go to the data workbook and click on the first cell in the column.
- Press “Enter.”
- Make sure the formula bar is the same on both workbooks.
- Manually enter the corresponding data on the rest of the column of the linked cell.
- Change the value of one of the cells in the data set. See if the new number shows up on the column of the linked cell.
How to Link Cells in Excel Same Worksheet
There are also several available methods to learn how to link cells in Excel same worksheet. The tips below will help you find another piece of data by clicking the first. Consider the methods below to begin.
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Link Cells in the Same Worksheet
It is easiest to learn how to link cells in Excel same worksheet by making two columns. Any changes made in the first will automatically apply to the second. The steps below will help you start this process.
- Start a new column. Name it “Linked Cell.”
- Start a second column, naming it whatever type of data you want to convey.
- Click on the first cell in the first column. Type the equal sign.
- Type the name of the cell you want to link after the equal sign.
- Press “Enter.”
- Drag the “fill” icon over the entire column to link the corresponding cells from the second column.
- Make a change in the second cell to ensure it matches the first.
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Link Several Cells at Once in the Same Worksheet
You can also learn to link multiple cells from the same worksheet. You will save time by not having to match each one individually. The steps below will help you in this process.
- Create two columns in an Excel worksheet. The first should contain the linked cells, and the second should have your primary data.
- Select all the cells containing the primary data in your second column.
- Press “Ctrl+C” on your keyboard to copy the cells.
- Click on the first cell of the first column.
- Right-click your mouse.
- Press “Paste Special.”
- Choose “Paste Link” in the pop-up window.
- Look at the two columns to see if the numbers match.
- Check the link by making a change in column two to see if it automatically applies to the first.
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How to Mirror Cells in Excel
You can use any of the above methods to learn how to mirror cells in Excel. Technically, the word “mirror” is a synonym for “combine” or “link.”
Mirroring a cell in Excel allows you to copy the exact data from one workbook to another. You can also link the information from a single cell to another.
Finally, mirroring information on Excel lets you make changes at any time. Any adjustments made to the data will apply to both cells that you link.
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Link any Two Cells in Excel
You should feel a little more comfortable with Excel tools after learning how to link two cells in Excel. Copy and paste the data from one set to another using the equal sign. You will notice a formula populate in both worksheets if needed.
You can also insert hyperlinks or use manual formulas to link two cells in Excel. This method will let you click on the new information to see any updates.
Finally, you do not only have to link individual cells in Excel. You can combine entire rows and columns to make keeping track of your data much easier.
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