VLOOKUP defaults to approximate matching when its final argument is omitted. For an exact ID search, that can produce a neighboring record instead of the result you intended.
Inspect all four arguments
For a key in E2 and a source in A2:C100, =VLOOKUP(E2,A2:C100,3,FALSE) searches the first source column and returns the third column from an exact matching row.
The index is relative to the selected range, not the spreadsheet’s absolute column number. Confirm the range begins with the key column and includes the return column.
Use approximate matching only for a defined purpose
TRUE, or an omitted final argument, uses approximate matching and requires an appropriately ascending search column. It can be useful for deliberately designed threshold tables, but not for quietly substituting another customer’s ID.
If exact matching returns #N/A, inspect whether the key exists, whether its type matches, and whether spaces differ. Do not switch to approximate mode simply to make that error disappear.
Check duplicates and structural edits
VLOOKUP returns the first matching row when duplicate keys exist. Test a known key, an absent key, and a duplicate example. Verify the returned value against the actual source record rather than just checking that it is nonempty.
After inserting or rearranging source columns, review the numeric return index. A formula can remain syntactically valid while returning a different attribute. If the result column lies to the left of the key, use a suitable method such as XLOOKUP or INDEX with MATCH rather than rearranging a shared dataset solely to accommodate VLOOKUP’s direction.
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.