Generate UUIDs in Google Sheets
Formula
UUID Generator creates RFC 4122 compliant version 4 UUIDs with flexible formatting options including standard, uppercase, and hyphen-less formats.
=VERVE("uuidgenerator")=VERVE.CALL("uuidgenerator")Inputs
Required inputs are positional, in the order below. Everything else is passed as a "name", value pair after them — the same shape as SUMIFS.
| Input | Type | Where it goes | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
count | integer | "count", value | Number of UUIDs to generate (e.g. 5) |
version | integer | "version", value | UUID version (only version 4 currently supported) (e.g. 4) |
format | string | "format", value | Output format (e.g. default) |
Passing an option
=VERVE("uuidgenerator", "count", "5")What lands in your sheet
With no "field" pair the formula spills the whole response as two columns — field name on the left, value on the right — starting at the cell you typed in. Make sure the cells below and to the right are empty.
Pulling one value
Add a "field" pair to get a single cell back instead of a table. The field name is the dot-path from the table below.
=VERVE("uuidgenerator", "field", "format")=VERVE.CALL("uuidgenerator", "field", "format")Available fields
#PREMIUM(field) rather than a value, so a locked field never looks like a real answer.| Use as "field" | Type | Example cell value | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
uuids | array | ["fd874c4e-4fc2-4a65-ab1e-46c7a141c3c3","59f31559-dd12-46ff-a3d1-d7bd5eddb09b","f09b5f16-1b68-4082-acbc-38ce08de2fe4"] | Array of generated UUID strings in requested format |
count | number | 5 | Number of UUIDs generated in this request |
version | number | 4 | UUID version specification used (RFC 4122 v4) |
format | string | default | Output format applied to generated UUIDs |
variantPremium | string | RFC 4122 | UUID variant specification identifier |
When a cell doesn't fill
A failed lookup returns readable text starting with #ERR rather than a spreadsheet error, because Excel cannot show a custom message on a real error — you would get a bare #VALUE! with no reason. The trade-off is that IFERROR() won't catch it; test with LEFT(cell, 4) = "#ERR" instead.
| Cell reads | What happened |
|---|---|
#ERR Not connected | No API key saved. Open the side panel and connect your account. |
#ERR Replace <name> with a cell or value | The preview formula was copied as-is. Swap the placeholder for a cell reference. |
#ERR No "x" in uuidgenerator | An option name that this source doesn't take. The message lists the ones it does. |
#ERR No data point "…" | The "field" path isn't in the response. Check the dot-path against the table above. |
#PREMIUM(field) | The field exists but your plan doesn't include it. |
#ERR Out of credits | The month's credits are spent. Usage resets on your billing date. |
Before the formula works
The add-in reads the API key you saved once in the side panel — the key never goes in the formula, so a shared sheet doesn't leak it and a collaborator without access simply sees the last calculated values.
- Install the add-in for Google Sheets or Excel.
- Open the side panel and sign in, or paste a key from your dashboard.
- Type the formula above into any cell.
Other ways to use Generate UUIDs in Google Sheets
Set up Generate UUIDs in Google Sheets on VerveSheets, or reach the same source a different way. Your VerveSheets account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.
Frequently asked questions
Does Generate UUIDs in Google Sheets work in both Google Sheets and Excel?
Yes — the same source, the same arguments. Sheets calls it =VERVE("uuidgenerator", …) and Excel calls it =VERVE.CALL("uuidgenerator", …); that function name is the only difference.
Do the cells recalculate on their own?
They recalculate when the sheet does — on edit, on open, or on a manual recalc. Each recalculation is a fresh call and spends credits, so for a large static column it's worth copying the results and pasting them as values.
How many credits does a filled column cost?
1 credit per row looked up, whether you drag the formula or pass a range. The range form is one HTTP call instead of many, but the credit count is the same.
Can I share the sheet without sharing my key?
Yes. The key is stored against your account, not in the file. Collaborators see the values already in the cells; formulas only recalculate for someone who has connected their own account.
Why is a cell showing #ERR instead of an error?
So you can read the reason. Excel can't display a custom message on a real spreadsheet error, so the add-in returns the explanation as text on both platforms instead.