Spreadsheet formulas may appear missing when opening a file due to visibility settings or calculation behavior, not necessarily deletion. Formulas might be hidden if cells are formatted to display results only, calculation is set to manual (requiring a refresh), formulas exist in protected hidden rows/columns, or cell formatting obscures the text. This differs from formulas being deleted entirely, as the underlying logic often remains intact and recalculates when triggered.

For example, in Microsoft Excel, manual calculation mode (Formulas tab > Calculation Options) retains formulas but delays updating results until you press F9 or save/reopen. In Google Sheets, viewing a cell that only displays the calculated result (not the formula itself) might give the impression the formula is absent, but clicking into the cell reveals it in the formula bar.

While this prevents unnecessary recalculations on large sheets, it can cause confusion and missed updates. Ensure calculation is set to automatic when troubleshooting. Advantages include potential performance savings; limitations involve user errors like accidentally hiding rows containing formulas or overwriting formula cells with static values, potentially leading to undetected data loss if not handled carefully.