ROW in WPS on Windows: Introduction

ROW in WPS Spreadsheet returns the row number of a cell reference; this guide covers 4 core tasks, with 4 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.

At a Glance

Metric	Value	Notes
Core tasks	4	Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index
Available without membership	4	Matches the number of Free rows in the index
Membership-related items	0	Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index

About This Feature

Overview

The ROW function in WPS Spreadsheet on Windows returns the row number of a referenced cell. When you enter =ROW(), it returns the row number of the current cell. When you enter =ROW(A9), it returns the row number of the referenced cell.

This function is useful for several spreadsheet tasks:

Return the current row number for quick position tracking in a worksheet.
Return the row number of a referenced cell for helper columns and numbering formulas.
Work with other functions or cross-sheet references in more flexible formulas.
Recalculate automatically after data changes so results stay aligned with the worksheet.

Common use cases include row numbering, reference lookup, formula support, and worksheet organization.

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
Operating system	A Windows device that can run WPS Office normally
App version	It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office
Network	No mandatory internet connection is required for local formula calculation; downloading, installation, and account-related actions require internet access
Other	You need to open WPS Spreadsheet files and have permission to edit cell formulas

Download & Installation

Item	Details
Official download	WPS Office Free Download
Post-install check	Open WPS Office, launch Spreadsheet, select a cell, and enter `=ROW()` to confirm that the function prompt or calculation result appears

Source: WPS Download Center

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	WPS Spreadsheet supports the ROW function to return the row number of a cell reference, and it can be entered directly in the formula bar with other spreadsheet formulas.	Excel provides the ROW function to return the row number of a reference in a formula. For example, `=ROW(C10)` returns 10.	Google Sheets provides ROW to return the row number of a specified cell, and when no argument is provided it returns the row number of the current cell by default.	Notion formulas can calculate with database properties, but formulas apply to an entire property across database rows rather than to spreadsheet-style cell coordinates.	Adobe Acrobat focuses on PDF editing, conversion, and signing, and its product page does not describe a spreadsheet function equivalent to ROW.
WPS Advantages	Advantage: You can enter ROW directly in a spreadsheet workflow with cell-based references, which fits row numbering, helper formulas, and worksheet calculations.	Compared with WPS: Excel offers a directly comparable ROW function for workbook-based spreadsheet work.	Compared with WPS: Google Sheets also offers a directly comparable ROW function for browser-based collaborative spreadsheets.	Compared with WPS: Notion is oriented toward database property formulas instead of cell-by-cell row and column references.	Compared with WPS: Adobe Acrobat is designed for PDF document workflows rather than spreadsheet formula calculation.
Official Source	—	ROW function	ROW	Notion formulas guide	Adobe Acrobat overview

Overall Conclusion
If your work centers on spreadsheet row references, numbering, and formula-based worksheet logic, ROW in WPS is a practical fit. Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets provide directly comparable function behavior, while Notion and Adobe are aimed at database or PDF workflows instead of traditional spreadsheet cell formulas.

Use Cases

No.	Scenario	Suitable For	Main Need	How ROW Helps
1	Generate row numbers for records	Worksheet organizers	Show the current row for each record quickly	Enter `=ROW()` in a helper column or combine it with offset logic
2	Return the row number of a referenced cell	Finance and analysis users	Pull a row number from a reference into a calculation	Use `=ROW(A9)` to return the row number of the referenced cell
3	Build formulas with other functions	Advanced spreadsheet users	Combine row logic with broader worksheet formulas	Use ROW together with lookup, logic, or array-related formulas
4	Keep results aligned after data changes	Everyday office users	Avoid broken numbering or mismatched references after edits	Let formula recalculation update row-based results automatically

Membership & Benefits

Free vs WPS Premium

Capability	Free	WPS Premium
Use the ROW function in WPS Spreadsheet	✅ Available	✅ Available
Basic spreadsheet editing and formula entry	✅ Available	✅ Available
Additional advanced office and value-added features	Some features may be limited	More advanced features and value-added services are available
Cloud storage and selected extended benefits	Basic allocation	Higher allocation or more extended benefits

Source: WPS Office pricing page

Recommendations

Usage Scenario	Recommended Plan	Why
Use ROW for everyday spreadsheet work and basic calculations	Free	The function itself is available for regular spreadsheet tasks
Need broader advanced office features and extended services	WPS Premium	Suitable if you also need more premium tools, cloud benefits, or additional office capabilities

WPS membership center: Subscribe now