=Text(row(),"0000")
That didn't work for me

I'm quizzical. Fred's suggestion works ok for me, and it should for you,
too, as long as its placed in any cell in row1, then copied down from there
(since ROW() is sensitive to the row it is placed in).

What exactly did the expression return for you?

For increased flexibility to start with 0001 in any cell, just apply a small
tweak
In any starting cell, say, in B3: =TEXT(ROWS($1:1),"0000")
Copy down
--
Max
Singapore
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xdemechanik
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