Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Status Bar Summing No Longer Available.
Steve notes that he used to be able to highlight a row or column of numbers in Excel and the sum of that row or column would appear on the status bar. All of a sudden the sum has stopped appearing, and Steve wonders how to get it back.
The first thing to check is that the status bar is actually displayed on the screen. If it is not (for instance, you don't see "Ready" at the left side of where the status bar normally appears), then you need to follow these steps:
Figure 1. The View tab of the Options dialog box.
With the status bar displayed, Excel can show several different statistics about your selection, not just the sum. Right-click the status bar and you should see a Context menu appear that offers choices such as Average, Count, etc. (The options available depend on the version of Excel you are using.) If None is selected, then the status bar doesn't display anything about your selection. If Sum is selected, then you will see the sum that you desire.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (5491) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Status Bar Summing No Longer Available.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
While editing, you may need to select everything in a worksheet. Excel provides three easy ways you can accomplish this.
Discover MoreThere may be times you need to limit the amount of precision Excel uses in its calculations. Here is one way to accomplish ...
Discover MoreExcel places limits on how much memory your workbooks can use. Despite these limits, it is possible to create a workbook that ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2017-02-02 06:04:53
This simple code allows you to show , hide and add some text to the status bar
Alan
Sub StatusBarThingy() 'http://excel.tips.net/T005491_Status_Bar_Summing_No_Longer_Available.html
Let Application.DisplayStatusBar = False 'Makes the staus bar vanish
Let Application.DisplayStatusBar = True ' Puts it back to the default of showing
Let Application.StatusBar = "Hello" ' Put some text there for you to see
Let Application.DisplayStatusBar = False ' Makes the staus bar vanish
Let Application.DisplayStatusBar = True ' Puts status bar back with your text in it
Let Application.StatusBar = False ' Puts back deafult text
End Sub
2017-02-01 16:49:10
Shelley
Heather, I had the same problem, but Geoff's solution did not work for me. Found this comment on another blog about how to open two instances, which is what I always used to do before Excel 2013. I also used the sum feature like you do and the solution below is now working for me. Good luck!
Here's the text from that other source:
In order to truly get 2 different instances running, do this:
1. boot the first instance of Excel
2. hold down ALT + X, and boot another instance of Excel
>>In Windows 7, you could right-click on the Excel icon on the task bar, and choose "Excel 2013" from the pop up
>>Be sure you continue holding down those 2 keyboard keys (ALT and X) until you get a dialog
3. When you see the dialog asking "Do you want to start a new instance of Excel?", choose "Yes"
https://blogs.office.com/2013/02/07/open-excel-workbooks-in-separate-windows-and-view-them-side-by-side/
2017-01-10 11:46:15
Asif
The tip given below by Geoff worked for me too.
Thanks Geoff.
2016-12-28 12:07:26
Heather
I recently updated to Excel 2013. I use dual monitors and often have a spreadsheet on each monitor. Often times I would highlight a range of cells in a sheet on one monitor and enter the sum in the sheet on the other. With the previous version of Office the status bar stayed active when I clicked inside the other worksheet. Now as soon as I click something in the second instance the status bar goes blank in the first one. Is there a way to keep the status bar 'active'?
Thank you,
2016-08-03 08:42:31
Razi
The tip given below by Geoff worked for me.
Thanks Geoff.
2016-07-28 14:26:25
Geoff
Found the answer on another site. The Average and Sum functions are not working because the data in the cells is stored as Text rather than Numbers. Highlight the cells you want the information for, then go to the Data Tab, click on Text to Columns and click "Finish". This should solve the issue.
2016-06-06 11:15:47
Leslie
My version of Excel 2010 doesn't have this screen in the Options section. Now what?
2016-05-23 06:13:16
Mohamad
There are no longer totals on my status bar - where can I turn these on? I have tried the Excel help screen but to no avail. Can anyone help?
2016-05-19 12:49:56
Pam
For Office365, with the status bar showing, with a right-click to see options, both Sum and Count have a check mark.
However Count shows 3, but Sum does not show. I just checked, the format of the 3 cells is General.
So what am I doing wrong?
2016-05-08 06:03:40
Willy Vanhaelen
@Peter
You must select a range to add, count ...
Otherwise there is nothing to display.
2016-05-07 14:16:10
Peter
These instructions do not work. When I right click on the status bar, I can check or uncheck sum, average, and count, but regardless of what I select, it doesn't display anything.
So, what's the secret? How do I REALLY do this?
2016-04-28 17:51:54
Lisa
There are no longer totals on my status bar - where can I turn these on? I have tried the Excel help screen but to no avail. Can anyone help?
2015-12-25 06:15:01
sunil
when i enter long values in excel total of there sum show in status bar as 6.657235e+11. I want to see total amount in status bar. how it is possible.
2015-11-27 01:09:19
Ross
Hi All
I'm having the same issue as Stephen. I have tried Kelly's solution but it doesn't show me my total (sum) of the selected cells.
Any help would be great as just moved from Excel 2010 where I used this feature a lot.
Thanks
Ross
2015-10-02 15:26:41
Darcy
This was very helpful! Thank you!
2015-10-01 14:59:20
I have two work books open on two separate monitors. I use the calculator to add information needed for the other worksheet but when I transfer to the next sheet the calculation disappears...
I am in Excel 2013.
Thanks,
Stephen
2015-09-15 15:22:47
Kelly
Hold the ALT key when you open Excel and it opens in a new instance which allows your calculation to status in the status bar while selecting the cell in your other spreadsheet
2015-09-14 15:50:30
Tracey Pederson
I have two work books open on two separate monitors. I use the calculator to add information needed for the other worksheet but when I transfer to the next sheet the calculation disappears...
I am in Excel 2013.
Thank you for any insight on how to correct this issue.
Tracey Pederson
2015-08-17 21:17:01
Have Excel 2000 and just discovered AutoCalculate feature is missing in status bar. All boxes in Tools - Options - View look just as described below, but right click on status bar only delivers "Scroll here, left edge, right edge, page left, page right, scroll left, scroll right". PS. Ready is missing from bottom left. Any ideas?
2015-06-15 09:27:17
1CitizenJane
Yes, the status bar IS checked in Options/View. But the total number is NOT visible in lower right! NOW WHAT?!?
2015-04-02 19:09:28
1CitizenJane
The "sum" function at the bottom right of any excel spreadsheet has saved me HOURS! But suddenly, it disappeared from every single spreadsheet... hmmmm. [Microsoft?? Are you messing w/my stuff again?] Then, it has taken me mega-time over several weeks to find out how to retrieve/turn-on this feature again! Wa-la!! finally entered correct buzz words in google and got your site/this tip! which of course, worked like a charm! THANKS !! My excel 2003 is 'good as new'! Now I can get back to biz..
2015-01-23 07:14:27
Michael (Micky) Avidan
@mike,
Try to locate the MINUS sign at the RIGHT side of the negative Figure...
Michael (Micky) Avidan
“Microsoft® Answers" - Wiki author & Forums Moderator
“Microsoft®” MVP – Excel (2009-2015)
ISRAEL
2015-01-23 04:09:39
Richard James
Brilliant!
Search came up in Google. The steps were simple and to the point!
I've even got time to leave feedback. If only every website was as direct as this one. You save people hours!
Thanks :)
PS. Bookmarked you also
2014-09-04 03:04:49
kee wei kiat
hi, my status bar still not exit "ready' at the left side, please advice how to find it back,thanks
2013-04-20 21:56:05
mike
My status bar does show the SUM, but if it is negative, it doesn't show 'minus' sign.
Any suggestions?
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2017 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: 
Comments