"There are one or more circular references"
A formula depends on its own result, directly or by a detour. Excel does not know where to start, and says so every time the file opens.
What the message says
A circular reference: cell A10 contains =SUM(A1:A10), which includes itself. Or, by a detour, B1 depends on C1, which depends on B1.
Why it appears
- A total that includes its own cell: the range was extended one row too far.
- A copied formula that ends up pointing to its own column.
- A deliberately iterative calculation (interest computed on a balance that includes the interest), rare and best left to those who know what they are doing.
Making it go away
- Formulas, Error Checking, Circular References: Excel shows the last cell involved.
- Fix the total's range so it stops above it.
- For an intended iterative calculation: File, Options, Formulas, Enable iterative calculation, knowingly.
The tool that handles it
The formula audit lists formulas that point to their own cell, along with the workbook's other pitfalls: hard-coded values, inconsistent formulas, errors.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a circular reference skew the results?
- Yes: without iterative calculation, Excel returns 0 or the last value calculated, and the formulas that depend on it are wrong without showing an error.