If a total does not change after an edit, inspect the referenced inputs and calculation mode. Re-entering every formula is usually a poor first diagnostic step.
Check the actual input range
Select the total and inspect its formula. Confirm the edited cell lies inside the referenced range and that a newly added row was included. Test suspicious numeric-looking inputs with ISNUMBER in a helper column.
Also check whether someone pasted a fixed value over the formula. A stale constant and a formula awaiting recalculation can look identical in the grid but need different repairs.
Inspect the current calculation settings
Open File > Settings > Calculation on a computer. Google’s current guidance distinguishes Automatic mode from Manual mode, where an editor uses the Calculate control to recalculate the document.
Manual calculation has a reminder banner and is not available in the mobile app. Coordinate any setting change because it affects the spreadsheet. Do not describe a manual-mode workbook as necessarily recalculating immediately after every edit.
Separate local calculation from external refresh
For imported data, check the source and its refresh mechanism separately. Recalculating a local sum does not guarantee that an external service has delivered a new observation or that a connector has refreshed.
Test a small known change in an included numeric cell and verify the resulting total. Then restore the test input safely. If the local calculation updates but imported records do not, investigate the import boundary instead. Avoid replacing a live formula with a hand-entered expected total, which hides the cause and prevents subsequent updates from working at all.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.