Hello Wayne,
Thank you for coming to the forum, my name is Fuad.
The F4 key still works fine, and I am using Office 365. Are you sure the problem is not the keyboard, check if your F4 is a second function key.
Press Fn + F4
If that works, that means on your keyboard F4 is a second function key, that issue has nothing to do with Excel itself.
I kindly await a reply for a follow-up
Best Regards Fuad
Give back to the Community. Help the next person who has this issue by indicating if this reply solved your problem. Click Yes or No below.
Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-us › office › switch-between-relative-absolute-and-mixed-references-dfec08cd-ae65-4f56-839e-5f0d8d0baca9
Switch between relative, absolute, and mixed references - Microsoft Support
As an example, if you copy the formula =B4*C4 from cell D4 to D5, the formula in D5 adjusts to the right by one column and becomes =B5*C5. If you want to maintain the original cell reference in this example when you copy it, you make the cell reference absolute by preceding the columns (B and C) and row (2) with a dollar sign ($).
Portland State University
web.pdx.edu › ~stipakb › CellRefs.htm
Relative & Absolute Cell References in Excel
For example, "$C$3" refers to cell C3, and "$C$3" will work exactly the same as "C3", expect when you copy the formula. Note: when entering formulas you can use the F4 key right after entering a cell reference to toggle among the different relative/absolute versions of that cell address.
What are the 3 types of cell references in Excel?
Excel has three types of cell references: relative (e.g., A1), absolute (e.g., $A$1), and mixed (either $A1 or A$1). Relative references change when a formula is copied, while absolute references do not. Mixed references combine aspects of both.
simplilearn.com
simplilearn.com › home › resources › data science & business analytics › excel tutorial for beginners › how to create an absolute reference in excel?
How to Create an Absolute Reference in Excel?
What is an absolute function with example?
The absolute function, represented as ABS in Excel, computes the absolute value of a number, turning negatives into positives. For instance, if a cell contains -20, using ABS(-20) or ABS(A1), where A1 holds -20, will return 20.
simplilearn.com
simplilearn.com › home › resources › data science & business analytics › excel tutorial for beginners › how to create an absolute reference in excel?
How to Create an Absolute Reference in Excel?
What is the absolute function in Excel?
The ABS function in Excel returns the absolute value of a specified number, which means it converts negative numbers to positive values without changing positive numbers. For example, ABS(-5) would return 5.
simplilearn.com
simplilearn.com › home › resources › data science & business analytics › excel tutorial for beginners › how to create an absolute reference in excel?
How to Create an Absolute Reference in Excel?
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W3Schools
w3schools.com › excel › excel_abs_ref.php
Excel Absolute References
It locks a reference in the formula. Add $ to the formula to use absolute references.
GCFGlobal
edu.gcfglobal.org › en › excelformulas › relative-and-absolute-cell-references › 1
Excel Formulas: Relative and Absolute Cell References
This is an easy way to quickly insert an absolute reference. In our example, we'll use the 7.5% sales tax rate in cell E1 to calculate the sales tax for all items in column D. We'll need to use the absolute cell reference $E$1 in our formula.
DataCamp
datacamp.com › tutorial › absolute-reference-excel
Absolute Reference Excel: Stop Cell References from Moving | DataCamp
April 30, 2025 - An absolute reference in Excel is a type of cell reference that remains constant, no matter where the formula is copied or moved. Unlike relative references, which adjust based on the formula's new location, absolute references always point to the same cell. Absolute references are created ...
freeCodeCamp
freecodecamp.org › news › excel-absolute-reference-cell-referencing-example
Excel Absolute Reference – Cell Referencing Example
May 16, 2022 - Absolute referencing is done by prepending the rows and columns with a dollar sign. For example $D$4. If you want only the row fixed, do it like this: $D4. If you want only the column fixed, do it like this: D$4. Remember that if you want to ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/excel › absolute and relative cells
r/excel on Reddit: Absolute and Relative Cells
June 24, 2022 -
I am working on expanding my knowledge of Excel and I am having a difficult time understanding the difference of Relative Cell reference and Absolute relative Cell reference. I know in different formulas they do different things but I don't understand how they are different. Can someone help provide some clarification with easy to understand examples?
Top answer 1 of 5
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Relative means the reference can change when copied. An absolute reference doesn't change and column and row references can be different within the same reference. Some examples follow: =A1 - This reference will update both A and 1 when copied. Copied to column B, the referece becomes =B1. If copied to column C it updates to C1. If you copy it to the second row, it updaes to =B1, and so on. =$A$1 -- This reference will not update even when copied. It will always refere to cell A1. =$A1 -- This reference will update the row but not the column. If copied to column B it remains =$A1. If copied to the second row it updates to $A2. =A$1 -- This reference will update the column reference but not the row. Copied to column B, it will update to B$1. If copied to row 2 in column A, it remains $A$1. Often, it won't matter; sometimes it's the only way to get the correct results. Try these siimple examples and then expand on the above until it makes sense. You will catch on quickly I'm sure. Susan H.
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Relative references will automatically change as you copy the formula to a new row while absolute references will stay the same no matter what. So a relative reference of (A1) would change to (B1) if you copied it one cell to the right and it would change to (D1) if you copied it 3 cells to the right. It's usually for when you're working with a list outside of the context of a table. Absolute cell references ($A$1) will never change no matter what.
Washington State Department of Commerce
commerce.wa.gov › excel-advanced-tip-tell-your-formulas-how-to-behave-with-absolute-references-in-formulas-using
Excel Advanced Tip: Tell your formulas how to behave with absolute references in formulas using ‘$’
August 30, 2021 - E2 is a relative reference: the cell reference will change if the formula is copied to a new cell. $E$9 is an absolute reference: Column E and Row 9 are locked with $s; the cell reference will not change.
Simplilearn
simplilearn.com › home › resources › data science & business analytics › excel tutorial for beginners › how to create an absolute reference in excel?
How to Create an Absolute Reference in Excel?
July 31, 2025 - Learn what is an absolute reference in excel✔️, how to create an absolute cell reference, and how to use an absolute cell reference. Read on👍and learn!
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Exceljet
exceljet.net › absolute reference
Excel Absolute reference | Exceljet
An absolute reference in Excel refers to a reference that is "locked" so that rows and columns won't change when copied. Unlike a relative reference, an absolute reference refers to an actual fixed location on a worksheet.
Ablebits
ablebits.com › ablebits blog › excel › excel formulas › why use dollar $ in excel formula: relative & absolute cell reference
Why use dollar $ in Excel formula: relative & absolute cell reference
March 21, 2023 - The dollar sign in an Excel cell ... or copied to other cells. In a nutshell, using the $ sign before the row and column coordinates makes an absolute cell reference that won't change....
GoSkills
goskills.com › microsoft excel › resources
Absolute Reference Excel - A Beginner's Guide | GoSkills
April 9, 2021 - To apply absolute reference in Excel, the addition of a dollar sign ($) is required in the Excel formula — i.e., =$C$1 as shown in the example above. Without the dollar sign ($) in the formula, Excel naturally interprets the cell address as a relative reference, where the point of reference changes as the relative row and column coordinates move.
Learnesy
learnesy.com › uncategorized › absolute & relative references in excel
How are absolute and relative cell references used in Excel?
August 20, 2025 - The relative references for L2 and M2 change to L3 and M3, and so on. This happens depending on the relative position of the row. An absolute cell reference is one where both the row and column are made constant by adding dollar signs.
Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-us › office › switch-between-relative-and-absolute-references-981f5871-7864-42cc-b3f0-41ffa10cc6fc
Switch between relative and absolute references - Microsoft Support
Change a cell reference from relative (default) to absolute to maintain the original cell reference when you copy it. Maintain cell reference by putting a dollar sign ($) before the cell and column references.
GCFGlobal
edu.gcfglobal.org › en › excel2016 › relative-and-absolute-cell-references › 1
Excel 2016: Relative and Absolute Cell References
There are two types of cell references: relative and absolute. Relative and absolute references behave differently when copied and filled to other cells. Relative references change when a formula is copied to another cell.
Happy Ltd
happy.co.uk › home › blogs › using absolute cell references in excel
Using Absolute Cell References in Excel - Happy
April 1, 2025 - The E2 cell reference needs to be used in all of the formulas. All we need to do is to Absolute, or fix, the E3 cell reference
Lenovo
lenovo.com › home
Absolute Cell Reference vs. Relative Cell References - What's the Difference? | Lenovo US
Relative cell references change their position when you copy or move a formula to a different cell. On the other hand, ACR remain fixed and doesn't change regardless of the formula's new location. Yes, you can mix absolute and relative cell references in a formula.
Indeed
indeed.com › career guide › career development › what is absolute cell reference in excel? (with examples)
What Is Absolute Cell Reference in Excel? (With Examples) | Indeed.com
August 16, 2024 - Absolute cell reference is a method of writing a formula in a spreadsheet document so copying that formula to another cell does not change the cell its formula references. Using an absolute reference allows you to lock the column you reference, ...
Cognex
support.cognex.com › docs › is_572 › web › EN › ise › Content › User_Interface › CellReferences.htm
Cell References - Relative/Absolute
For example, assume that cell A2 ... cell reference is essentially saying "always point to one cell above me." Absolute: A cell reference that does not change when copied to a new location....