Changing a cell from a dollar symbol to a euro symbol changes its presentation. It does not convert the underlying amount using an exchange rate.
Check the amount and its currency
Confirm the source currency before editing the format. In a helper cell, =ISNUMBER(A2) can distinguish a numeric amount from text that merely contains a currency symbol.
Keep an explicit currency code when multiple currencies share a column. A bare symbol can be ambiguous, and a total across unrelated currencies has no useful financial meaning without an agreed conversion method.
Apply the intended display
Select the numeric cells and choose Format > Number > Custom currency. Choose the required currency and decimal display, then apply it. Check negative and zero amounts as well as a positive example.
If the workbook’s default currency is wrong throughout, inspect its locale under File > Settings. That setting also affects number and date conventions for everyone using the file, so a targeted currency format is often preferable for a single column.
Keep conversion as a separate calculation
If you actually need another currency, use an explicitly sourced exchange rate, a relevant effective date, and a documented rounding policy in a separate calculation. Preserve the original amount and currency for reconciliation.
Verify that a formatting-only change leaves the numeric value unchanged. Compare a known total before and after the edit. If imported amounts are text, investigate their decimal and grouping characters before conversion; simply applying Currency does not guarantee that the text becomes a valid number. Readers should be able to distinguish a label change from a real change in monetary value.
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.