How-To

How to Refresh Pivot Tables in Google Sheets

By Brian Burgess

Updated April 20, 2022

Pivot tables in Google Sheets typically update dynamically. But if you have an issue, here’s how to refresh pivot tables in Google Sheets.

Pivot tables are a powerful tool that allows you to summarize data, find patterns and reorganize information. A lot of places of business use them for data analysis in apps like Excel and Google Sheets.

You don’t typically need to refresh data in a pivot table in Google Sheets, as pivot tables typically refresh themselves when the source data is changed. That isn’t always the case, however. Google Sheets might fail to update if you’re working in a large spreadsheet with a lot of data.

If this happens to you, here’s what you’ll need to do to refresh pivot tables in Google Sheets.

How to Refresh Pivot Tables in Google Sheets

One of the easiest ways to refresh a pivot table in Google Sheets is by refreshing the browser you’re using. To do this:

1. Open your pivot table in your browser and make a change, such as filtering a result using the side menu.
2. Click the Refresh button in your browser window.

That’s it. Your spreadsheet should update the values you added or removed from the pivot table. The pivot table should dynamically update if you update the data it pulls from the table.

Check Your Data Ranges

Another reason your data may not be appearing correctly in your table is because the data range that your pivot table is pulling data from is incorrect.

If you’ve already added your data, but add a new row of data below it, it won’t show up. Any data rows you add following the creation of the pivot table will not be reflected.

To fix the issue of data not in range in a pivot table, do the following:

1. Click any cell in the pivot table, and the Pivot Table Editor will appear.
2. At the top is the pivot table data range—edit the referred data range to add the newly added rows or columns. For example, if the original range was data!B1:E17, you can add a row by updating the range to data!B1:E18.

The table should include the new data and the new row or rows. If it still doesn’t update, refresh your browser as shown in step one.

Check Your Filters

Another reason the pivot table isn’t updating is if you apply a filter, and new items won’t appear. For instance, if you use a filter to a cell or cells in your pivot table, it might hide or display different results.

To fix the filters issue in a Google Sheets pivot table:

1. Open the Pivot Table Editor and scroll to the list of filters.
2. Click the X symbol next to each one you want to delete—start with the troublesome filters.
3. That should fix the problem, and you should start seeing correct values again. To add filters back, bring up the Pivot Table Editor, scroll down to Filters, and create filters by clicking the Add button.

Working With Data in Google Sheets

Now you know how to refresh pivot tables in Google Sheets. Typically, your table in Google Sheets should update dynamically, but if it doesn’t, try refreshing your browser first. If that doesn’t work, try one of the other tips above.

Of course, Google Sheets isn’t the only way to create spreadsheets. For example, if you have Excel, check out how to get the most from pivot tables in the Microsoft app. If you haven’t made one before, read about creating a pivot table in Microsoft Excel.

For Google Sheets, you can create a checklist or insert an image in a Google Sheets spreadsheet. Also, take a look at using Google Sheets to track stocks.