=IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/SPREADSHEET_ID", "Sheet1!A1:Z100") IMPORTRANGE imports a range of cells from an entirely separate Google Sheet spreadsheet. The first time you link, you must click 'Allow Access' on the #REF! prompt.
Google Sheets IMPORTRANGE Function
The IMPORTRANGE function bridges separate Google Sheets workbooks, creating live, real-time data pipelines across departments without manual copy-pasting.
1. Basic Linking Syntax
=IMPORTRANGE("1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms", "Q3_Revenue!A1:F500")2. Power Combination: IMPORTRANGE + QUERY
When combining IMPORTRANGE with QUERY, you must refer to columns as Col1, Col2, Col3 (case-sensitive) rather than sheet letters A, B, C:
=QUERY(
IMPORTRANGE("SPREADSHEET_ID_HERE", "Orders!A1:G1000"),
"SELECT Col1, Col2, Col5 WHERE Col4 = 'Delivered' AND Col5 > 1000",
1
)Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I see #REF! 'You need to connect these sheets'?
Hover over the #REF! cell and click the blue 'Allow Access' button. This grants permission for the destination workbook to read data from the source sheet.
How do I filter an IMPORTRANGE output before loading it?
Wrap IMPORTRANGE in QUERY: =QUERY(IMPORTRANGE(URL, "Data!A1:E100"), "SELECT Col1, Col3 WHERE Col4 > 500", 1). Notice you must use Col1, Col2 notation instead of A, B.