A linked Google Docs chart may need an explicit update after its source spreadsheet changes. Refresh the linked object and review the resulting numbers instead of assuming the report always displays the latest source state.
Update the intended chart
- Open the report and select the linked chart.
- Use Update when it appears on the object.
- For several objects, open Tools > Linked objects.
- Update the relevant objects individually or use Update all deliberately.
Do not use Update all casually in a report whose charts represent different approved reporting periods. Determine which sources should change before refreshing every linked object.
Check the source and update behavior
Use Link options and Open source to inspect the supplying spreadsheet. Verify that the source contains the expected changes and that the chart is the intended one.
Google notes that source updates override changes made to the linked object in the destination file. Local edits to that object do not automatically update the original spreadsheet. Keep those directions of change distinct.
Verify the report’s claims
After updating, compare the displayed values, units, dates, and labels with the source. Read the paragraph explaining the chart; its conclusion may need revision even when the graphic refreshed successfully.
If Update is absent, the object may be unlinked or already current. Check its relationship rather than treating the missing button as proof of an error. Finally, inspect the delivered output and record the intended data period. A refreshed chart does not independently prove that the underlying analysis is correct or approved for the report’s audience.
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.