Google Sheets error: Zap not triggering

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Updated at August 20th, 2025

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Table of Contents

Causes Delete existing rows or columns Add rows anywhere other than to the bottom of your sheet Sort your worksheet Rename, add, or rearrange columns Rename your spreadsheet or worksheet Add frozen, hidden, or protected columns or rows How to fix it Still need help?

When using Google Sheet triggers in your Zap, the Zap does not run even though the spreadsheet was updated. Your Zap is turned on, but there is no corresponding Zap run in your Zap history.

Causes

This may happen when you make any of the following structural changes to your spreadsheet:

Delete existing rows or columns

Delete existing rows or columns

Google Sheet triggers use a deduplication process to identify new rows. This ensures that your Zap only acts on data it has not processed before.

To deduplicate in Google Sheets, Zaps use the row number. For example, if you create a new row, making it row 100, the Zap will detect it and trigger. If you then add another new row (row 101), the Zap will only trigger for row 101, as row 100 has already been processed.

If you then delete five existing rows from your sheet, the remaining rows get renumbered. Zapier’s deduplication system is still expecting new rows to appear from row 101, and will not trigger when the next 5 rows (96-100) get filled in.

Deleting rows or columns can interfere with Zapier’s ability to track processed rows. This can cause Zapier to lose track of which rows it has already processed. As a result, the Zap may miss data.

Add rows anywhere other than to the bottom of your street

Add rows anywhere other than to the bottom of your sheet

New rows only trigger when added to the bottom of the sheet. Any row added into the middle of the sheet would not be considered a new row. Additionally, adding rows into the middle pushes existing bottom rows into a new position and causes the Zap to trigger again for data it has already processed

Sort your worksheet

Sort your worksheet

Sorting your worksheet changes the order of the data. As a result, it interferes with Zapier’s ability to identify which rows it should trigger on.

Rename, add, or rearrange columns

Rename, add, or rearrange columns

If you rename, add, or rearrange the columns, the data in your sheet will not match the Zap’s expected structure.

Rename your spreadsheet or worksheet

Rename your spreadsheet or worksheet

If you rename your spreadsheet or worksheet, the Zap will no longer be able to locate it when it connects to Google Sheets.

Add frozen, hidden, or protected columns or rows

Add frozen, hidden, or protected columns or rows

If any columns or rows are frozen, hidden, or protected, this may affect how Zapier can access the information from your sheet.

How to fix it

To fix this:

Turn your Zap off before making changes to your spreadsheet.
Re-test your Google Sheets triggers or actions in any connected Zaps. Depending on the changes you made, you may need to remap fields.
Alternatively, consider using a different spreadsheet app, such as Zapier Tables. Zapier Tables lets you use your table in the following ways without affecting your Zaps:
- Create views or filters to display subsets of a table’s data.
- Trigger and continue Zaps from records, either manually or automatically, when a record is created or updated.
- Add rows anywhere within a table.
- Delete rows within a table.

Still need help?

If this article did not fix the issue, Zapier has a few other options to get you the help you need:

Contact Zapier Support. Our Support team can investigate your account to find solutions.
Ask in the Zapier Community. Get advice from experienced Zapier users in the Zapier Community.
Learn more about getting help. Read our guide on how to get help and support with Zapier to find the best resources for your specific problem.