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Pivot tables · Data & refresh
Refreshing
Re-reads the source data; pivots do not update on their own.
When to use it
A pivot reads from a cached copy of the source and never updates on its own. Refresh re-reads the source; Refresh All updates every pivot and query in the workbook.
The shape of it
- How
Right-click the pivot and choose Refresh, or Alt + F5. Refresh All (Ctrl + Alt + F5) updates every pivot and connection.
Worked examples
Refresh one pivot
Right-click the pivot, Refresh → The pivot updates with the current source data
After editing the source.
Refresh everything
Ctrl + Alt + F5 → Every pivot and connection refreshes
Refresh All.
Refresh on open
PivotTable Analyze, Options, Data, Refresh data when opening the file → Automatic refresh on open
Set and forget.
Worth knowing
- Alt + F5 refreshes the active pivot.
- If new rows are missing after refresh, the source range did not include them; use a Table.
- Refresh resets column widths unless Preserve formatting is set.
Where it goes wrong
- People forget to refresh and report stale numbers.
- Manual cell formatting is lost on refresh.
Related
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