The following steps demonstrate this tool: We’ll use our grocery list with product location data from before to show how it works. Google Sheets has a handy tool for removing duplicates instead of highlighting them. In our example, this change to the formula (arrow) now only highlights the second instance in which our duplicates appear (box). Our new formula will look like this: ”=countif($A$2:$A2,$A2)>1”.Now that we’ve set the column to absolute in the ending, but now the row, each row will only look at rows above itself for duplicates. Adjust the ending range value from $A$15 to $A2.We need to make a tweak to our old “=countif($A$2:$A$15,$A2)>1” formula (this is the one we used in the previous section). Suppose you have the dataset as shown below and you want to highlight only the cells that have the duplicate item. You can adjust the formula so Google Sheets will only highlight the second or later instance of a duplicate by making a tweak to the formula. Now we’ve highlighted the entire row range for columns with duplicates.Īs I mentioned earlier, when you use conditional formatting to highlight duplicates in Google Sheets, it will highlight all the instances of duplicate cells.īut what if you want to highlight only the duplicate instances (and not the first time it appears in the list). Hit “Done” to apply the new formatting (image 2, bottom box).This means adding “$” before “A2” in our example. In the “Conditional formatting” tab, set the “Format rules” to “Custom formula is…” and enter the duplicate-finding formula with the criteria adjusted for an absolute column.Open the “Conditional formatting” feature and check the new range (image 2, top box).In the example, select A2:B15 instead of A2:A15 Select the range of all columns and rows you want to highlight instead of just the column you’re searching for matches.Let’s use our grocery list from before, but now we’ve added where you find each product in the store as a new column (as shown below).įollow these steps to highlight the entire row for duplicate cells in one column: The criteria section needs to use an absolute value for the column (A2 is now $A2).The range needs to include all rows (A2:A15 is now A2:F15).This makes it easier to find duplicates when the duplicated cell isn’t on the screen. When working with larger spreadsheets with many columns, you will likely want to highlight the entire column when there’s a duplicate instead of just the cell.
Highlighting and Find Duplicates in Google Sheets This is very helpful if you need to highlight more than one color at a time. Note: Use the “Formatting style” section to change the highlighting color and font style. If it’s more than 1, the formula returns TRUE and those cells are highlighted. The COUNTIF function used in conditional formatting counts how many times a cell text string appears in the list. So if an item repeats twice or thrice, all the cells that have this item/text will be highlighted. Note that using this method highlights all the instances of the duplicate cell. Google Sheets is now highlighting duplicates in our grocery list. In the case of our example, we’re using the formula “ =countif($A$2:$A$15,A2)>1” to check for duplicates. Set “Format cells if…” to “Custom formula is” and enter the duplicate check formula “=countif(Range,Criteria)>1” and hit “Done” to return a “true/false” response.In case you already have conditional formatting applied, this option will be at the bottom (below the existing rule). Click on the “+ Add another rule” option in the conditional formatting pane that opens.Open the conditional formatting window by opening the “Format” drop menu and choosing “Conditional formatting” from the list.
In the example case, we want to use A2:A15 (image 1, box). To highlight duplicates cells with conditional formatting, follow these steps.
Suppose you have a dataset as shown below and you want to highlight all the duplicate values in column A. Highlight Duplicates in Google Sheets (in a Single Column) You May Also Like the Following Tutorials:.Create a Unique Cells List (Instead of higlighting duplicates).Some tips when highlighting duplicates in Google Sheets.Highlight Duplicates with Added criteria.Highlighting and Find Duplicates in Google Sheets.Highlight Duplicates in Google Sheets (in a Single Column).
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