How to Fix Excel Break Links is Not Working? [Simple Guide]

Use there quick fixes to get back to work in no time

3 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

Some Excel users link their spreadsheets with reference links. A value in oneExcel filewill then be linked to another. Users can usually remove those reference links with the Edit Links dialog, which includes aBreak Linkoption.

However, sometimes users encounter an error where the excel function to break links is not working. If you can’t break all reference links in an Excel file, check out some of the resolutions below.

How to fix the Excel function break links is not working?

1. Unprotect the Excel worksheet

2. Delete named cell ranges

3. Clear all data validation rules from the sheet

4. Check out the Break Link Excel add-in

The Break Link Tool is an Excel add-in with which you can quickly remove all reference links from an Excel worksheet. The add-in is not freely available, but you can still try out the add-in with a one-week free trial.

Click theDownloadbutton on theBreak Link Tool pageto install that add-in.

With that add-in installed, you’ll see aBreak Linksbutton on the Home tab. Click that button to open the tool’s window. Then you can click aSelect alloption to select all the tool’s break link settings. Pressing theStartbutton will remove all the links.

So, that’s how you can break links in your sheet when you can’t get rid of them with the Edit Links tool. Note that spreadsheet objects and pivot tables might also include referral links.

So, also check if any objects and pivot tables on sheets have any reference links.

Which one of these methods worked out for you? Let us know by leaving a message in the comments section below.

How to Fix Excel Break Links is Not Working? [Simple Guide]#

How to fix the Excel function break links is not working?#

1. Unprotect the Excel worksheet#

2. Delete named cell ranges#

3. Clear all data validation rules from the sheet#

4. Check out the Break Link Excel add-in#