Trace Dependents stopped working a few days Ago on one of my important files

In Excel, Trace Dependents, Trace Precedents, and Remove Arrows are disabled (greyed out) when Excel cannot display tracer arrows for the current workbook or selection. Use the following checks to restore them:

1. Verify objects are allowed in the workbook
   1. Select File > Options > Advanced.
   2. In Display options for this workbook, choose the affected workbook.
   3. Under For objects, show, make sure All is selected (not Nothing or Placeholders).
   4. Click OK, then try Trace Precedents/Trace Dependents again.
2. Confirm the workbook and references are open
   1. If formulas refer to other workbooks, those workbooks must be open; otherwise Excel cannot trace those relationships.
   2. Open any linked workbooks, then re‑try the tracing commands.
3. Check that the selection is traceable Excel beeps or leaves commands disabled if trying to trace items that are not supported by the auditing tools, such as:
   • References to text boxes, embedded charts, or pictures.
   • PivotTable reports.
   • References to named constants.
   • Formulas in another workbook that refer to the active cell when that other workbook is closed.
   Make sure the active cell is a normal worksheet cell containing or referenced by a formula, not one of the untraceable items above.
4. Re‑add tracer arrows after structural changes All tracer arrows disappear if the formula is changed, or if rows/columns/cells are inserted, deleted, moved, or removed. After such changes, the arrows must be recreated:
   • Select the cell with the formula.
   • On the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click Trace Precedents or Trace Dependents again.

If the commands remain greyed out after these checks, close and reopen the workbook, then repeat step 1 to ensure objects are visible for that specific file.

References:

• Display the relationships between formulas and cells