How to Automate Tasks in Google Sheets: Macros, Add-ons and Apps Script

Here's the catch. When you record a macro, you choose between absolute and relative references, and the choice decides which cells it touches forever after. Pick absolute and a macro that bolds A1 will only ever bold A1, whichever cell you've clicked. Pick relative and the same recording can bold the cell you select and its neighbours. Every macro you make also creates an Apps Script behind the scenes, which is how you edit or schedule it.

Three routes to automation compared

Route	What it does, as of October 2026	Where you find it
Macros	Records a task once and replays it, by menu, shortcut or schedule	Extensions, Macros
Add-ons	Adds extra features to Docs, Sheets, Slides and Forms	Get add-ons on the right, or Extensions, Add-ons
Apps Script	Adds custom menus, dialogs and sidebars, plus custom functions	Google Apps Script, or the macro's script editor

Recording your first macro

1. On your computer, open a spreadsheet at sheets.google.com.
2. At the top, click Extensions, then Macros, then Record macro.
3. At the bottom, choose the type of cell reference you want: Use absolute references or Use relative references.
4. Complete the task you want to record.
5. When you're done, click Save.
6. Name the macro, create a custom shortcut and click Save.

To run it later, click Extensions, then Macros, then the macro you want.

Absolute or relative: picking the right reference

Reference type	What the macro does	Google's example
Absolute	Works on the exact cell you recorded	Bold A1 and it'll only ever bold A1, regardless of which cell you clicked
Relative	Works on the cell you select and its nearby cells	Record bolding A1 and B1, and you can later use it to bold C1 and D1

I'd pick relative for anything you'll repeat on different rows, like formatting a new block of data each week, and absolute for a fixed spot, like a header cell that should always look the same.

Editing or removing a macro

You can change a macro's name, add a keyboard shortcut, edit the script or remove it.

1. On your computer, open a spreadsheet at sheets.google.com.
2. At the top, click Extensions, then Macros, then Manage macros.
3. Make your changes. To remove a macro or edit its script, click More next to it.
4. Click Update.

Google's help says that to edit the Apps Script created by a macro, you click Tools, then Script editor, at the top of the sheet.

Running a macro on a schedule

A macro doesn't have to wait for you. You can set it to run based on actions, calendar updates, time intervals or a chosen time and date.

1. On your computer, open a spreadsheet at sheets.google.com.
2. Click Tools, then Script editor.
3. At the top, click Edit, then Current project's triggers.
4. At the bottom right, click Add trigger and select your options.
5. Click Save.

Importing custom functions

You can also import custom functions made with Google Apps Script. Open a spreadsheet at sheets.google.com, click Extensions, then Macros, then Import macro, and next to the function you want, click Add function.

Installing and removing add-ons

Add-ons let you do more with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Forms. Here's the Google Workspace add-on route:

1. Open a document, sheet or slide on your computer.
2. On the right, click Get add-ons.
3. Click an add-on to read its description.
4. Click Install, then Continue.
5. Read the Request access message and click Allow.
6. After it installs, click Done.

You'll find Google Workspace add-ons in the right sidebar. To find other add-ons, click Extensions, then Add-ons. If yours doesn't appear after you install it, refresh the sheet. To uninstall one, click it on the right, click More, then Manage add-ons, and next to it click Options, then Uninstall. You can also go through Extensions, Add-ons, Manage add-ons, then reload the sheet to clear it from the sidebar.

A few things to know as of October 2026. Some add-ons may not work correctly without browser support for third-party cookies. Google Editor add-ons are moving out of the Chrome Web Store into Google Workspace's own add-on store: if one hasn't moved, you can't install it, though you can keep using it if you installed it before. If you turn on an unmoved add-on in a shared file, only people who've already installed it can use it, and some installed add-ons might need reinstalling. On some work and school accounts, your organisation installs add-ons, and only your administrator can uninstall them.

Apps Script, AppSheet and Data Studio

With Google Apps Script you can add custom menus, dialogs and sidebars to Docs, Sheets, Slides and Forms. AppSheet is a no-code platform that builds mobile and web apps from data sources such as Google Sheets, Excel, Cloud SQL and Salesforce, including workflows triggered by Workspace events, like sending an email when a Google Forms response arrives. Data Studio turns a Sheets worksheet or range into customisable dashboards and reports. If you'd rather have AI do the work, here's how to use Gemini in Google Sheets.

How I'd automate a sheet

I'd start with a recorded macro for any job you do the same way more than once, because it takes a minute and needs no code. I'd choose relative references unless the task always hits the same cell, then add a shortcut so it's one keystroke. Only when a job should run without you would I add a trigger, and only when the built-in tools can't do it would I look at an add-on, checking it's in Google's add-on store first. If you're still finding your way around, my Google Sheets tutorial covers the basics.

Frequently asked questions

How do I record a macro in Google Sheets?

Click Extensions, then Macros, then Record macro. Choose absolute or relative references, complete the task, click Save, then name the macro and click Save again.

What's the difference between absolute and relative references in a macro?

Absolute references make the macro work on the exact cell you recorded. Relative references make it work on the cell you select and its nearby cells.

Can a Google Sheets macro run on a schedule?

Yes. You can set a macro to run based on actions, calendar updates, time intervals or a chosen time and date, using a trigger in the script editor.

Does recording a macro create Apps Script?

Yes. When you create a macro in Google Sheets, an Apps Script is created, which you can edit.

Why can't I uninstall an add-on in Google Sheets?

Some work and school accounts have add-ons installed by their organisation. To uninstall these, contact your administrator.