This error means that the formula in the cell doesn't match the pattern of the formulas nearby.
Click Formulas > Show Formulas.
Doing that lets you see the formulas in all cells, instead of the calculated results.
Compare the inconsistent formula with ones before and after it, and correct any unintentional inconsistencies.
When you're done, click Formulas > Show Formulas. That will switch you back to showing the calculated results of all cells.
If that doesn't work, select a cell nearby that doesn't have the problem.
Click Formulas > Trace Precedents.
Then select the cell that does have the problem.
Compare the blue arrows or ranges in blue. Then correct any problems with the inconsistent formula.
Click Formulas > Remove Arrows.
If you selected cells below, press CTRL+D to fill the formula down.
If you selected cells above, click Home > Fill > Up to fill the formula up.
If you selected cells to the right, press CTRL+R to fill the formula to the right.
If you selected cells to the left, click Home > Fill > Left to fill the formula to the left.
If you have more cells that need the formula, repeat the above process going in the other direction.
Select the cell with the problem.
Click this button: and then select either Copy Formula from Above or Copy Formula from Left.
If that doesn't work and you need the formula from the cell below, click Home > Fill > Up.
If you need the formula from the cell to the right, click Home > Fill > Left.
Click OK or Next to jump to the next error.
Note: If don't want Excel to check for inconsistent formulas like this, close the Error Checking dialog box. Then click File > Options > Formulas. At the bottom, uncheck Formulas inconsistent with other formulas in the region.
If you're on a Mac, click Excel > Preferences > Error checking and then uncheck Formulas that don't match nearby formulas.
An error indicator appears when the formula does not match the pattern of other formulas near it. This does not always mean that the formula is wrong. If the formula is wrong, making the cell reference consistent often solves the problem.
For example, to multiply column A by column B, the formulas are A1*B1, A2*B2, A3*B3, and so on. If the next formula after A3*B3 is A4*B2, Excel identifies it as an inconsistent formula, because to continue the pattern, the formula should be A4*B4.
Click the cell that contains the error indicator and look at the Formula Bar to verify that cell references are correct.
Click the arrow next to the button that appears.
The shortcut menu shows the options that are available to resolve this warning.
Make the formula consistent by copying the pattern from the cell above. In our example, the formula becomes A4*B4 to match the pattern A3*B3 in the cell above.
Remove the error indicator, for example, if the inconsistency in the formula is intentional or otherwise acceptable.
Review the formula syntax and verify that cell references are what you intended.
Select the types of errors that you want Excel to flag. For example, if you don't want to see error indicators for inconsistent formulas, clear the Flag formulas that are inconsistent with formulas in adjoining cells check box.
To ignore error indicators for multiple cells at a time, select the range that contains the errors that you want to ignore. Next, click the arrow next to the button that appeared , and on the shortcut menu, select Ignore Error.
To ignore error indicators for a whole sheet, first click a cell that has an error indicator. Then press + A to select the sheet. Next, click the arrow next to the button that appeared , and on the shortcut menu, select Ignore Error.