The #GETTING_DATA indicator is a temporary status marker displayed while Excel queries external cloud services to populate linked data types such as Stocks, Geography, Currencies, or organizational entities. Under normal conditions, this state lasts only a fraction of a second. When a cell remains permanently stuck on #GETTING_DATA, the data-retrieval pipeline has stalled without returning either valid metadata or an explicit timeout failure.
Fast Fix
Force a clean calculation cycle by pressing
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F9. If the text remains stuck, verify your internet connection, right-click the cell, and select Data Type > Refresh. If using corporate networks, sign out and back into your Microsoft 365 account under File > Account to renew expired cloud authentication tokens.
Diagnostic Snapshot
| Indicator | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visible Marker | #GETTING_DATA |
| Formula Context | Formulas extracting properties from Linked Data Types (e.g., =A2.Price, =A2.Population) |
| Primary Root Cause | Network connectivity break, proxy block, or expired cloud token during query dispatch |
| Secondary Root Cause | External provider rate limits (Refinitiv, Bing Maps, Wolfram, or Power BI) |
| Resolution Timeframe | Instant upon manual token refresh or proxy exception configuration |
How the Linked Data Type Pipeline Operates
When you convert plain text into a rich data type (such as typing “MSFT” and converting it to Stocks), Excel does not merely store a string. It creates an internal entity object containing a security identifier:
[Cell A2: "MSFT"] (Stock Data Type)
│
▼ (HTTPS REST Request)
Microsoft Data Service (Cloud Gateway)
│
├──> Financial Data Partner (e.g., LSEG / Refinitiv)
└──> Mapping Partner (Bing Maps / Wolfram)
│
▼ (JSON Payload returned)
Excel Entity Engine ──> Populates A2 with Record ──> Formula =A2.Price extracts value
If the pipeline breaks anywhere between the client application and the cloud provider, Excel holds the dependent formula cells in the #GETTING_DATA calculation state awaiting a return packet that never arrives.
Step-by-Step Diagnostic Steps
1. Perform a Deep Recalculation
A standard recalculation (F9) often skips cells that the calculation engine believes are already mid-evaluation.
- Press
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F9. This undocumented shortcut forces Excel to clear all cached calculation trees, reconstruct internal dependency pointers, and re-query all external cloud links from scratch.
2. Refresh the Parent Entity Cell
Do not troubleshoot the formula that references the property (e.g., =A2.Price). Troubleshoot the parent entity cell (A2):
- Locate the cell displaying the small linked icon (e.g., the stock certificate or map icon).
- Right-click the cell and select Data Type > Refresh.
- If the parent cell reverts to plain text or displays a small warning badge, the identifier failed validation. Re-select the correct entity from the Data Type pane.
If the entity resolves but extracting a specific attribute fails with #FIELD!, the data provider does not track that metric for the selected asset. Review #FIELD! Error in Rich Data Types.
3. Refresh Microsoft 365 Account Tokens
Linked data types require constant authentication against Microsoft services. If your account token expires or experiences identity synchronization lag, requests stall silently:
- Click File > Account.
- If you see a yellow warning triangle stating Account Error or Please sign in, click Fix Me.
- Sign out completely, restart Excel, and sign back in.
For persistent token drops in enterprise setups, see How to Resolve “Credential persistence” Errors in M365 Excel.
4. Check Corporate Proxy and SSL Inspection Rules
Enterprise security proxies that inspect HTTPS traffic can break the persistent WebSocket or long-polling HTTP connections used by Excel’s entity service.
- Have your network administrator verify that outbound traffic to
.officeapps.live.comand.microsoftexchange.combypasses deep packet decryption and buffering. - If you are on a corporate VPN, disconnect temporarily to test whether the cells resolve over a direct commercial connection.
5. Rule Out Upstream Service Throttling
If you are querying hundreds of stock tickers or geographic entities simultaneously across a large sheet, external data partners may throttle your client IP address.
- If formulas stall during batch imports or cross-workbook queries, verify whether your data connections display explicit
#BUSY!flags by checking #BUSY! Error in External Data Formulas. - If you are querying custom enterprise data types hosted in Power BI rather than public financial feeds, see #DATA! Error in Power BI Linked Data Types.