Refresh formulas from mobile Google Sheets and Excel

Mobile Google Sheets and Excel do not expose the SheetsFinance refresh menu the way desktop does, so use a formula pattern or a scheduled script to force recalculation when you need fresh data on a phone or tablet.

On desktop, the add-on still offers Refresh Real-time, Refresh Errors, and Refresh All. The patterns below are for when those menu actions are not available, especially on mobile Excel where the add-on ribbon is not available.

Use a dummy refresh cell

Excel and Google Sheets re-evaluate a formula when any of its inputs change. Append a spare cell to the options argument so changing that cell forces a reload without changing the data request.

1. Pick a spare cell (for example B1) and enter 1.

2. Append that cell to the options argument of each SheetsFinance formula you want to control.

3. To refresh on mobile, change the spare cell (for example from 1 to 2). Every formula that references it reloads.

If the formula already has options, concatenate the refresh cell onto them:

=MAX(SF_TIMESERIES($D2, $A$1-91, $A$1, "1week", "high", "NH&"&B1))

If you are not using options, put an empty string in that slot and concatenate the cell:

=SF_TIMESERIES($D2, $A$1-91, $A$1, "1week", "high", ""&B1)

Point a whole column or block of formulas at the same refresh cell so one edit reloads them together. Use separate refresh cells per column or section when you want narrower control and lower quota use.

Gate formulas with IF and a checkbox

Wrap a SheetsFinance call in IF so it only runs when a control cell is on. When the control is off, the function does not load and does not consume quota.

1. Add a checkbox (or enter 1 / 0) in a control cell such as B1.

2. Wrap each formula you want to control:

=IF($B$1=TRUE, SF_TIMESERIES($D2, $A$1-91, $A$1, "1week", "high", "NH"), "")

Turn the checkbox on when you want data; turn it off to stop loads for that block. The tradeoff is that while the control is off, those cells show blank (or your fallback) instead of the last loaded values.

Use one checkbox per dashboard section if you want to load real-time prices without also loading heavy history or technicals.

Schedule a refresh with Apps Script (Google Sheets)

In Google Sheets, a time-driven Apps Script trigger can clear and re-enter SheetsFinance formulas on a schedule so the sheet reloads without opening the desktop refresh menu.

1. Open the spreadsheet on desktop and go to Extensions → Apps Script.

2. Write a function that finds the SheetsFinance formulas you care about, removes them, then writes the same formulas back. Re-entering the formula forces Google Sheets to recalculate, but the result may come from a cached response rather than newly fetched data; clear or expire the relevant cache when genuinely fresh server data is required—the same idea the add-on refresh actions use internally.

3. In the Apps Script editor, add a time-driven trigger for that function (for example once an hour or once a day).

4. Authorize the script when prompted, then leave the spreadsheet available to the account that owns the trigger.

Scope the script to specific ranges rather than the whole workbook so you do not reload every function on every run. Pair this with the checkbox or dummy-cell patterns if you only want certain blocks live on a schedule.

Choose a pattern

You can combine patterns: gate heavy formulas behind a checkbox, append a dummy refresh cell for on-demand mobile reloads when the gate is on, and schedule only a small critical range with Apps Script.

What is next

For desktop menu refresh options and when to use each one, read Refresh. For formula patterns that conserve quota without focusing on mobile, see Control quota usage with focused refreshes. For plan limits and broader performance tactics, read Limits and Performance Tips.