Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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: Trouble Recording Paste Special Formula.
Joan ran into a problem on a new computer system she got. On an older system she had a macro that would essentially perform "Paste Special—Formula." When she tried to record the same macro on her new system, Excel generated an error message and wouldn't record the macro.
It's unclear why Excel would be generating an error message when trying to record such a simple macro. We were able to record the steps with no problem. It could be that the error is related, somehow, to the conditions existing when trying to do the recording. For instance, the Clipboard may not actually contain a formula that could be pasted, or you could be trying to paste in a protected worksheet.
Be that as it may, it is just as easy to create a Paste Special—Formula macro from scratch. The following is the same as what would have been recorded by the Macro recorder, and it can be entered directly into a macros module in the VBA Editor:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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: 
Sub PasteFormulas()
Selection.PasteSpecial Paste:=xlPasteFormulas, _
Operation:=xlNone, SkipBlanks:=False, _
Transpose:=False
End Sub
Note that the macro has only a single line to do the actual pasting. In order to use it, simply copy some cells to the Clipboard, select where you want the formulas pasted, and then run the macro. You can assign it to a shortcut key to make using it even easier.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (10429) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Trouble Recording Paste Special Formula.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2019 For Dummies today!
Import information from a program external to Excel, and your numbers may be treated as text because of the way that the ...
Discover MoreYour macros can easily open and manipulate other Excel workbooks. If a workbook you are trying to use is already in use ...
Discover MoreIf you use For ... Next loops in your macros, make sure you give a way to jump out of the loop early. That way you can ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2021-10-17 09:57:33
J. Woolley
I guess I missed the point of this Tip. It is about the macro recorder, not that anyone would actually want a PasteFormulas macro. If you really want to PasteFormulas, you can simply right-click the target and pick from Paste Options.
2021-10-16 10:30:36
J. Woolley
Or you can right-click the Quick Access Toolbar and pick Customize Quick Access Toolbar > Commands Not in the Ribbon > Paste Formulas > Add.
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments