Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Changing the Reference in a Named Range.
Using named ranges can be very handy when you are working with formulas or when you just want to keep track of what certain cells in a worksheet are used for. At some point, however, you may want to change the cells referred to by an existing named range. For instance, if a named range called MyRange refers to cells A1:A5, you may want to have it refer to cells C7:C19 instead.
The easiest way to change the range to which a name refers is to use the Name Manager. You can display the manager by displaying the Formula tab of the ribbon and clicking the Name Manager tool in the Defined Names group. (See Figure 1.)
Figure 1. The Name Manager.
The Name Manager lists all the named ranges that you've defined. You might think that you need to click Edit in order to make a change, but when changing the actual range associated with a name the process is even easier:
That's it; MyRange now refers to cells C7:C19 instead of A1:A5.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (8237) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Changing the Reference in a Named Range.
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2017-04-21 09:16:02
Melissa
Thank you so much. I have been beating my head against the wall trying to fix a problem caused by a Named Range that was in a deleted worksheet. This article really helped!
2017-02-16 05:07:43
Barry
I make it a rule when writing macros to always refer to cells on a worksheet using a named range. That way if a user (if they are allowed to) were to add or delete rows or columns the referred range remains correct as Excel will adjust the range referred to automatically. Ranges referred to explicitly in macros are not updated if rows or columns are added or deleted.
2017-02-15 06:34:30
Willy Vanhaelen
@Wiliam Fennell
The syntax for changing the RefersTo reference in a macro is:
ActiveWorkbook.Names("YourName").RefersTo = "=" & ActiveSheet.Name & "!" & Range("a1:a10").Address
2017-02-13 14:28:13
William Fennell
I would like to change the cells in a "named range" while executing a macro.
Although I use relative locations in writing the macro, the macro is stored with the "new" range in RC form. Of course this prevents the macro from changing the cells in future executions of the macro.
Do you know of a solution to this problem?
2016-12-02 22:35:07
Gerry Erdman
This is a great tip. Thank you.
2016-12-02 10:14:10
1695814
fyi, ctrl+F3 is the keyboard shortcut that will bring up the Name Manager.
2016-05-19 01:49:02
anshul
Thank you this is really helpful.
2016-03-22 13:43:34
Vera
Thank you for sharing Excel Tips.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
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