Deleting a Named Range

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated February 6, 2014)

Named ranges can be a powerful tool that aids in the quick (and understandable) development of formulas in a spreadsheet. However, as a spreadsheet changes, you may no longer have need for a named range that you previously defined. If you want to get rid of a named range, follow these steps:

  1. Choose Data | Named and Protected Ranges. Sheets shows the Named and Protected Ranges pane at the right side of the screen.
  2. Hover the mouse pointer over the named range you want to delete. A small pencil icon appears at the right of the range name. (See Figure 1.)

    3. Figure 1. Choosing to edit a named range.

  3. Click the pencil icon. Sheets expands the information about the range. (See Figure 2.)

    4. Figure 2. Changing information about a named range.

  4. Click the Delete Range tool (it looks like a trash can). Sheets asks you to verify that you want to delete the range.
  5. Click Remove. The named range is deleted.

Remember that deleting a named range doesn't actually delete any data in your spreadsheet. All it does is to get rid of the name you previously created. If you have any formulas in your spreadsheet that use the name you just deleted, those formulas will need to be edited so they are correct.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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