My Google Sheets document is running really slow because it has tons of data in it. I want to find a way to make the old entries from previous months stay put and not slow things down anymore. The thing is, I still need to see all that old information in the same spreadsheet.
Is there some method to turn older rows into read-only or frozen state so they stop causing lag? I really don’t want to split everything into different sheets if I can avoid it. Maybe there’s a script or formula that can help with this kind of thing?
I’m looking for any tricks or solutions that keep everything together but improve how fast the sheet loads and works.
I faced a similar issue with a large dataset in Google Sheets. To enhance performance, I first converted older entries to static values. You can do this by copying the old data and using ‘Paste special’ to keep only the values, which retains visibility while reducing strain on the sheet. Additionally, I eliminated dynamic functions like TODAY() from older data, leaving them solely in active rows, which significantly improved loading times. Protecting these historical ranges can prevent inadvertent changes and might also help with performance. For ongoing management, I implemented a Google Apps Script that periodically converts older data entries into static values based on a specified date threshold, helping maintain efficiency without losing access to historical information.
Managing large datasets in Google Sheets can indeed slow down performance. A practical approach is to create a summary view that displays only the most recent data, while maintaining a separate section for historical data that can be referenced when necessary. This helps keep the main workspace responsive. Additionally, consider removing any unnecessary formatting from older entries, as this can significantly impact loading times. Using IMPORTRANGE to link to static versions of old data in different sheets can also help, allowing you to access needed information without compromising performance. Focus on minimizing the load on your primary workspace through strategic data management.
honestly, i just turned off auto-calculation for the entire sheet and only refresh when needed. go to file > settings > calculation to find it. also, delete any conditional formatting from old data - that stuff destroys performance way more than people think.