How to permanently disable Excel from automatically including adjacent cells when using SUM:

1. Click on the "File" tab in the ribbon and select "Options".
2. In the Excel Options dialog box, select "Advanced" from the left-hand side.
3. Scroll down to the "Display options for this workbook" section.
4. Uncheck the box next to "Show a zero in cells that have zero value".
5. Click "OK" to save the changes.

This should prevent Excel from automatically including adjacent cells when using . If you still encounter issues, you may need to adjust your filters or check for hidden rows or columns that may be affecting your calculations.