How To Highlight Duplicate Data In Google Sheets

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Do you have a lot of data in your Google Sheets and need to identify duplicate entries quickly? No need to worry because Google Sheets has a built-in feature that allows you to highlight duplicate data easily. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps on how to highlight duplicate data in Google Sheets.
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Step 1: Open your Google Sheets

To get started, open your Google Sheets and select the range of cells or columns that you want to check for duplicates.

Step 2: Click on “Format”

Next, click on the “Format” tab located on the top menu. From the drop-down menu, select “Conditional formatting.”

Step 3: Choose “Custom formula is”

Under the “Conditional formatting” window, select “Custom formula is” from the drop-down menu.

Step 4: Enter the formula

In the text field, enter the formula “=countif(A:A,A1)>1” (without the quotes). Replace “A:A” with the range of cells you want to check for duplicates.

Step 5: Select the formatting style

Next, choose the formatting style for the duplicate entries. You can select a color, bold text, or any other style that you prefer.

Step 6: Click on “Done”

Once you have selected the formatting style, click on the “Done” button to save your changes.

Step 7: Review the highlighted cells

Now, your Google Sheets will highlight any duplicate entries that you have in the selected range of cells. Review the highlighted cells to see which entries are duplicates.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I highlight duplicate data in multiple sheets?

    Yes, you can apply the same conditional formatting to multiple sheets by selecting the sheets and then following the same steps.

  • Can I highlight only the first occurrence of a duplicate?

    No, this feature will highlight all duplicate entries in the selected range of cells.

  • What happens if I add new data to the selected range of cells?

    The conditional formatting will automatically adjust to include any new data in the selected range of cells.

  • Can I remove the highlighting?

    Yes, you can remove the highlighting by going back to the “Conditional formatting” window and selecting “Clear rules” from the drop-down menu.

  • Is there a limit to the number of cells I can select?

    Yes, there is a limit to the number of cells you can select for conditional formatting. Google Sheets has a maximum limit of 500,000 cells for conditional formatting.

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