21/07/2026
Are you still using VLOOKUP? Let's fix that. 👇
If you work in Excel, you've probably used VLOOKUP a hundred times. But there's a better formula that does the same job — faster, safer, and way less annoying.
The problem with VLOOKUP:
It only searches left to right. So if your lookup value isn't in the first column, you're stuck rearranging your whole sheet. And if someone adds or deletes a column? Your formula breaks. 😩
The fix: XLOOKUP
Old way (VLOOKUP):
=VLOOKUP(A2, B:F, 3, FALSE)
You have to manually count which column your answer is in. Miscount = wrong result.
New way (XLOOKUP):
=XLOOKUP(A2, B:B, D:D)
Just point to the column you want the answer from. Done. It even searches right-to-left or bottom-to-top if you need it to.
Bonus: No more wrapping everything in IFERROR — XLOOKUP lets you set a custom "not found" message right in the formula:
=XLOOKUP(A2, B:B, D:D, "Not found")
If you spend any time in spreadsheets, this one swap is worth learning today.
💬 Drop a comment if you want more Excel tips like this — I'm doing one a day this week!
