How to Change a Drop Down List in Excel

Do you want to change the items in your drop down list in Excel? Or do you want to add or remove items from your list without affecting the data validation? If so, you can use various methods to change drop down list in Excel and edit the source of your list. Changing drop down list can help you update your data and make your list more accurate and relevant. In this article, I will show you how to change drop down list in Excel using the worksheet data, the name manager, and the data validation dialog box.

  • Change drop down list using the worksheet data: This is the easiest and most common way to change drop down list in Excel. It involves editing the cells that contain the data that appears as items in your drop down list. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Locate the cells that contain your list items. You can first click your drop down list to see what cells within your data are included in your list.
    2. To add an item, type it below the existing items. To remove an item, delete it from the cell. To change an item, edit it in the cell.
    3. Select the cell that contains your drop down list and go to the Data tab.
    4. Click Data Validation in the Data Tools group. This opens the Data Validation dialog box.
    5. In the Source box, update the cell references to include or exclude the changes you made. You can also drag through the new range of cells on your sheet.
    6. Click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog box.
  • Change drop down list using the name manager: This is a more advanced and flexible way to change drop down list in Excel. It allows you to edit or remove the existing list items or add new ones without affecting the data validation. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Go to the Formulas tab and click Name Manager in the Defined Names group. This opens the Name Manager dialog box.
    2. Select the named range that contains your list items and click Edit.
    3. In the Refers To box, update the cell references to include or exclude the changes you want to make. You can also drag through the new range of cells on your sheet.
    4. Click OK to apply the changes and close the Edit Name dialog box.
  • Change drop down list using the data validation dialog box: This is another way to change drop down list in Excel. It allows you to edit or remove the existing list items or add new ones manually without using a cell range or a named range. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Select the cell that contains your drop down list and go to the Data tab.
    2. Click Data Validation in the Data Tools group. This opens the Data Validation dialog box.
    3. In the Source box, type or edit the items that you want to appear in your drop down list. Separate each item with a comma.
    4. Click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog box.

In conclusion, changing drop down list in Excel can help you change the items in your drop down list and make them more accurate and relevant. You can use various methods to change drop down list in Excel using the worksheet data, the name manager, and the data validation dialog box. By using these methods, you can update your data and make your list more dynamic and user-friendly.