Learn how to create a drop-down list in Excel without or with color using conditional formatting and data validation rules.

Microsoft Excel’s Data Validation feature provides an easy way to create a dropdown at the sheet level. If you base the list on data, you’ll probably want a list of unique items, which is ...

Select a cell — I selected B2. Click the Data tab. In the Data Tools group, click Data Validation, and then click Data Validation from the dropdown. From the Allow dropdown, choose List.

To keep your drop-down lists current, use data validation lists that automatically include new items. Set up your list in an Excel table, which is dynamic and expands as you add new data ...