How to update defined names (named ranges) in Excel

When you need this

You’ll typically need to update a named range if you (or someone else) has:

• Moved a table so it now sits outside the existing named range

• Added rows/columns outside the named range (so the range doesn’t automatically expand)

• Re-structured a sheet and formulas start returning errors or wrong values because they still reference the old range

Solution

Update the named range using Name Manager:

1. Open the Excel file

2. Go to the Formulas tab

3. Click Name Manager

4. Select the named range you need to change

5. • Typing the correct range directly, or

   • Clicking the range selector button (to the right of the field) and selecting the correct cells with your mouse

     In Refers to: update the cell reference by either:

6. Press Enter

7. Click Close

Your named range is now updated, and any formulas using that name will reference the new area.

Why this happens
Named ranges point to a specific cell reference (e.g., Sheet1!$A$1:$D$20). If you move content or expand the data outside that reference, Excel won’t always update the named range automatically—so you must update it manually in Name Manager.

Quick checklist

• Did the table move outside the original range?

• Were rows/columns added outside the defined range?

• Do formulas still reference the old name but return incorrect results?

If yes, update the range via Formulas → Name Manager.