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Troubleshooting GPT for Sheets

This article covers a wide range of issues that can be encountered with GPT for Sheets, offering solutions and advice for troubleshooting various scenarios, including API key concerns, free trial limitations, formula parsing challenges, and rate limits.

Problems​

I bought a pack but my balance is empty​

Problem: You have purchased a pack but your balance in GPT for Sheets is still empty.
Solution
Click on your balance in GPT for Sheets and check that you are using the Google account with which you have purchased your pack.

My packs have disappeared​

Problem: You have purchased packs and used GPT for Sheets but now all your packs have disappeared from the usage tracking screen.
Solution
Click on your balance in GPT for Sheets and check that you are using the Google account with which you have purchased your packs.
Problem: GPT for Sheets sidebar is blank, or fails to load.
Solution
  1. Open GPT for Sheets in a Chrome Incognito window.

  2. If the sidebar loads successfully, check the following:

    • Ensure that you are not using multiple Google accounts in the same Chrome session. If you are, create a new profile using this guide.
    • Clear the cache and cookies on your browser.
    • Disable any extension on your regular browser that may be preventing GPT for Sheets from launching. You can troubleshoot this by disabling one by one the extensions, reloading your Google spreadsheet and trying to launch the sidebar again.

    If the problem persists, please let us know by submitting a support request.

Formulas are reloaded when I open, reload or edit the spreadsheet​

Problem: Google Sheets automatically reloads all formulas every few hours. This includes GPT formulas and can lead to unexpected costs and result changes.

Important note: Sorting, filtering, moving columns or rows will reload ALL formulas and generate unexpected costs. Replace formulas with values before moving things around.

Solutions

GPT for Sheets offers a variety of options to control recalculations. These options vary based on the model in use and your preference for a temporary or permanent solution:

I've entered my OpenAI API key and it's not working​

Problem: You have entered an OpenAI API key in the GPT for Sheets sidebar and you cannot use it.
Solutions
  • While you have entered your OpenAI API key, you also need to purchase a pack in GPT for Sheets to use GPT functions within a Google spreadsheet. Learn more.
  • If you have purchased a pack in GPT for Sheets and it's still not working, then you can check if your OpenAI API key is valid by trying the solutions in Your API key is too limited

Response is cut or incomplete​

Problem: The response you get seems to be incomplete.

Solution

You need to increase the maximum response size. Learn more here.

Functions are stuck on "Loading"​

Problem: GPT functions fail to execute and remain in a loading state.

Functions sometimes get stuck on loading for unknown reasons, it is a bug in Google Sheets/Google Apps Script, as per the official issue tracker. In most cases, functions start working again within 24 hours.

Solutions

The workarounds below should be tried in order:

  1. Execute a random native formula (such as SUM or CONCAT) in a blank cell, and delete it after.
  2. Delete the content of the cell and undo the deletion.
  3. Refresh the spreadsheet.
  4. Make a copy of the spreadsheet. Pause the original spreadsheet to avoid incurring unexpected costs if it suddenly gets unstuck.

I get charged when I'm not using GPT for Sheets​

Problem: Google Sheets automatically reloads all formulas every few hours. This includes GPT formulas and can lead to unexpected costs.

Solutions

GPT for Sheets offers a variety of options to control recalculations. These options vary based on the model in use and your preference for a temporary or permanent solution:

My results refreshed and I lost data​

Problem: Google Sheets automatically reloads all formulas every few hours. This includes GPT formulas and can lead to unexpected result changes.

Solution
Problem: When you select Extensions > GPT for Sheets and Docs, the only option you see is Help. Accessing the Extensions menu immediately after opening your spreadsheet may cause this problem.
Solution

Refresh your page, wait 30 seconds, then try to access the Extensions menu again.

Errors​

Exceeded maximum execution time​

Exceeded maximum execution time (line […]).

Problem: Your request exceeded the 30-second limit allowed by Google Sheets functions. This is more likely to happen during peak times when the servers of the model providers (such as OpenAI) are experiencing high demand.

The response time can vary based on the specific model you are using and the time of usage.

Solutions

Your API key is too limited​

Problem: If your OpenAI organization is using a free trial, the rate limits of your API key will be too low to be used in GPT for Sheets.
Solutions

If you are not using an OpenAI free trial account​

Check that your OpenAI organization is correctly set in GPT for Sheets:

  1. Select API keys from the add-on menu.
  2. Enter your OpenAI organization ID in the format org-xxxxxxxxxxx, and click Save. This step is crucial if you are part of multiple organizations, as it ensures that billing for usage in both GPT for Sheets and GPT for Docs is attributed to the appropriate account.

    Important Note: To check if the organization you are using has remaining credits, follow these steps:

    1. Click on your user icon in the bottom left corner and select the appropriate organization.

    2. Go to Billing settings to check if you have remaining credits.

If you are using an OpenAI free trial account​

  • Option 1: Continue without an API key.
    This option is suitable for immediate use and if using your API key is not a priority. Select Continue without API key to clear it from GPT for Sheets. Learn more about billing.
  • Option 2: Buy OpenAI credits for increased API rate limits.
    1. Go to OpenAI billing settings.
    2. Add your payment details.
    3. Purchase OpenAI credits starting at $5 to upgrade your account from the Free tier to Tier 1. This change increases your rate limit from 3 to 3,500 requests per minute with the gpt-3.5-turbo model. Note that TPM (Tokens Per Minute) limitations still apply, and further tier progression is necessary for greater TPM access.
    4. Wait up to 30 minutes for the new API key limit to become active.

OpenAI API not working with your key​

Problem: While your OpenAI API key is recognized as valid, it is not working due to one or more of the following reasons:

  • You haven't purchased OpenAI credits (if you're on a prepaid billing plan).
  • You haven't added a payment method to your OpenAI account (if you're on a legacy monthly billing plan).
  • Your default OpenAI organization isn't correctly set.
  • You have added a payment method or purchased OpenAI credits within the last 30 minutes and you still get this message.
Solutions
  1. Go to OpenAI billing settings.
  2. Add payment details.
  3. Purchase OpenAI credits.
  4. Select API keys from the add-on menu to ensure your OpenAI organization is correctly configured.
  5. Wait up to 30 minutes for your OpenAI API key to become active.
Solution for immediate use: If immediate use is needed and using your API key is not a priority, select Continue without API key to clear it from GPT for Sheets. Learn more about billing.

Additional configuration required​

Additional configuration required. Open the sidebar: Extensions > GPT for Sheets™ and Docs™ > Open.

This issue has two possible causes. See the table below for solutions to each:

ProblemSolution
The system cannot connect to the model provider because there is no API key or the API key provided is invalid.1. Verify that you have set an API key.
2. If your spreadsheet is on a Shared Drive, the API key must be set by the spreadsheet's Creator. For other spreadsheets, the Current Owner should set the API key. Learn more.
3. Use a model that doesn't require any API key.
GPT functions are not working if the sidebar has not been initially opened (for new users).Open the GPT for Sheets sidebar to activate your free trial. Check your permissions in the spreadsheet to ensure you can execute GPT functions.

Your request has timed out​

Your request has timed out. To prevent timeouts, go to: Extensions > GPT for Sheets > Open > GPT formulas controls > enable safe mode (line 5373).

Problem: Your request exceeded the 30-second limit allowed by Google Sheets functions. This is more likely to happen during peak times when the servers of the model providers (such as OpenAI) are experiencing high demand.

Solutions
  • Choose a model with a faster response time. You can track average response times on our response time tracker. Azure models are usually faster than OpenAI’s.
  • Use Safe mode to reduce timeouts.
  • Use GPT for Excel to completely avoid timeouts.

Cannot use GPT for Sheets because you are not the owner​

Problem: You have opened a spreadsheet that you do not own, and you can't launch GPT for Sheets sidebar from it.

Solutions

Check who can execute GPT functions and use GPT for Sheets sidebar in a shared spreadsheet.

Invalid xxx parameter​

Error: Invalid xxx parameter.

Problem: The error indicates a formatting issue or an unreadable parameter within the formula.

Solutions
  • Check that you have quotation marks around your prompt or model name if it is not in a cell:
    ✅ =GPT("hello")
    ✅ =GPT(A1)
    ❌ =GPT(hello)
  • Check that your parameters are in the correct order. See the function list.
  • Check that all parameters (even optional ones) are added as empty when there is another parameter coming after them:
    ✅ GPT_TRANSLATE(A2, "french", , "Avoid passive voice")
  • Check that you are using the right parameter separator for your locale: , or ;?
  • Check that you are using the correct number format for temperature for your locale: 0.8 or 0,8?

Error: #NAME? Unknown function​

Error: #NAME? Unknown function: 'GPT'

Problem: GPT functions have not been enabled in your spreadsheet.

info

Ensure that GPT for Sheets and Docs extension is installed on your account. If it doesn't appear in the Extensions menu, install it using the account you are currently operating.

Solution
  • If you are the Creator of the spreadsheet, enable GPT functions by going to Extensions > GPT for Sheets and Docs > Open in your spreadsheet.
  • If you're not the Creator of this spreadsheet, request assistance from the Creator or make a copy of the spreadsheet for yourself.

Script error​

ScriptError: Authorisation is required to perform that action.

Problem: You are likely using multiple Google accounts in the same Chrome session.

Solution
  1. Create a dedicated Chrome profile.
  2. Create a new spreadsheet.
  3. Set up your API key in this new spreadsheet.
  4. Try a GPT function again.

Service invoked too many times​

Error: You've exceeded the Google Sheets external service calls daily limit (20K for Gmail accounts, 100K for Google Workspace accounts). Consider using bulk tools, which are not subject to this limit, for high volume.

Problem: You have reached your daily quota of calls to an external service from your Google account.

  • Quota for gmail.com accounts: 20k / day
  • Quota for Google Workspace accounts: 100k / day

Google's rate limits apply to all add-ons and scripts, not just ours. If you use multiple scripts or add-ons, your usage counts towards the same rate limits. It is not possible to increase them as explained here.

Solution
  • Quotas reset every 24 hours, so please wait for the end of this period to regain access.
  • Use bulk tools to bypass this error, as they are not subject to Google's rate limits.
  • You can use GPT for Excel instead, as this add-in is not affected by Google's rate limits.

Requests per day limit reached​

You have reached your xxx requests per day limit for model xxx.

Problem: You have reached your limit of requests per day (RPD) for the selected model.

Solutions

Tokens per day limit reached​

You have xxx / xxx tokens per day left for model xxx.

Problem: You have reached your limit of tokens per day (TPD) for the selected model.

Solutions

Formula parse error​

Formula parse error.

Problem: Your formula contains a structural or syntax error, making it uninterpretable by Google Sheets.

Solutions
  • Check that you have quotation marks around your prompt if it is not in a cell:
    ✅ =GPT("hello")
    ✅ =GPT(A1)
    ❌ =GPT(hello)
  • Check that your parameters are in the correct order. See the function list.
  • Check that all parameters (even optional ones) are added as empty when there is another parameter coming after them:
    ✅ GPT_TRANSLATE(A2, "french", , "Avoid passive voice")
  • Check that you are using the right parameter separator for your locale: , or ;?
  • Check that you are using the correct number format for temperature for your locale: 0.8 or 0,8?

Multiple Google accounts error​

You seem to be logged in to multiple Google accounts in your browser.

Problem: You are likely using multiple Google accounts in the same Chrome session.

Solution
  1. Create a dedicated Chrome profile.
  2. Create a new spreadsheet.
  3. Set up your API key in this new spreadsheet.
  4. Try a GPT function again.

Need more help?​

If none of the listed solutions addresses your issue, reach out to our support team for further assistance.

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