Learn how to create dropdown lists in Google Sheets to streamline data entry, ensure consistency, and prevent errors in your spreadsheets.
Click on the cell or select a range of cells where you want the dropdown list to appear.
Navigate to the menu bar at the top and click Data > Data validation.
A 'Data validation rules' sidebar will appear on the right. Click the + Add rule button.
In the 'Criteria' section, select Dropdown. To use a list from your sheet, choose Dropdown (from a range).
If you chose 'Dropdown', type your options directly into the fields provided. If using a range, select the cells containing your list items.
Customize any advanced options if needed, then click the green Done button to create your dropdown list.
Pro Tips for Dropdown Lists
Under 'Advanced options', you can assign a specific color to each dropdown item for better visual organization.
Select 'Dropdown (from a range)' and point to a list in another sheet. This makes it easy to update all your dropdowns by just editing the source list.
In 'Advanced options', choose whether to 'Show a warning' or 'Reject the input' if a user tries to enter a value not on your list.
Once you've created a dropdown in one cell, use the fill handle (the small square in the cell's bottom-right corner) to drag and copy it to adjacent cells.
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