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How to auto populate other cells when selecting values in Excel drop down list?

Let’s say you have created a drop down list based on values in range A2:A8. When selecting value in the drop down list, you want the corresponding values in range B2:B8 to be automatically populated in a specific cell. For example, when you select Natalia from the drop down, the corresponding score 40 will be populated in E2 as the below screenshot shown. This tutorial provides two methods to help you solve the problem.

Drop down list auto populate with VLOOKUP function
Drop down list auto populate with an amazing tool
More tutorials for drop down list...


Drop down list auto populate with VLOOKUP function

Please do as follows to auto populate other cells when selecting in drop down list.

1. Select a blank cell that you want to auto populate the corresponding value.

2. Copy and paste the below formula into into it, and then press the Enter key.

=VLOOKUP(D2,A2:B8,2,FALSE)

Note: In the formula, the D2 is the drop down list CELL, A2:B8 is the table range includes the lookup value and the results, and the number 2 indicates the column number which the results locate. For example, if the results locate in the third column of your table range, please change the 2 to 3. You can change the variable values in the formula based on your needs.

3. From now on, when you select a name in the drop down list, E2 will be auto-populated with a specific score.

Easily select multiple items from drop-down list in Excel:

Have you ever tried to select multiple items from a drop down list in Excel? Here the Multi-select Drop Down List utility of Kutools for Excel can help you easily select multiple items from the drop-down list in a range, current worksheet, current workbook or all workbooks. See below demo:
Download Kutools for Excel Now! (30-day free trail)


Drop down list auto populate with Kutools for Excel

You can easily populate other values based on drop-down list selection without remembering formulas with the Look for a value in list formula of Kutools for Excel.

Before applying Kutools for Excel, please download and install it firstly.

1. Select a cell for locating the auto-populate value (says cell C10), and then click Kutools > Formula Helper > Formula Helper, see screenshot:

3. In the Formulas Helper dialog box, specify the arguments as follows:

  • In the Choose a formula box, find and select Look for a value in list;
    Tips: You can check the Filter box, enter certain word into the text box to filter the formula quickly.
  • In the Table_array box, click the shot lookup a value 4 button to select the table range which contains the lookup value and the result value;
  • In the Look_value box, click the shot lookup a value 4 button to select the cell containing the value you are searching for. Or you can directly enter the value into this box;
  • In the Column box, click the shot lookup a value 4 button to specify the column you will return the matched value from. Or you can enter the column number into the textbox directly as you need.
  • Click OK.

Now the corresponding cell value will be auto-populated in cell C10 based on drop-down list selection.

  If you want to have a free trial (30-day) of this utility, please click to download it, and then go to apply the operation according above steps.


Demo: Drop down list auto populate without remembering formulas


Related articles:

Autocomplete when typing in Excel drop down list
If you have a data validation drop down list with large values, you need to scroll down in the list just for finding the proper one, or type the whole word into the list box directly. If there is method for allowing to auto complete when typing the first letter in the drop down list, everything will become easier. This tutorial provides the method to solve the problem.

Create drop down list from another workbook in Excel
It is quite easy to create a data validation drop down list among worksheets within a workbook. But if the list data you need for the data validation locates in another workbook, what would you do? In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a drop fown list from another workbook in Excel in details.

Create a searchable drop down list in Excel
For a drop down list with numerous values, finding a proper one is not an easy work. Previously we have introduced a method of auto completing drop down list when enter the first letter into the drop down box. Besides the autocomplete function, you can also make the drop down list searchable for enhancing the working efficiency in finding proper values in the drop down list. For making drop down list searchable, try the method in this tutorial.

How to create drop down list with multiple checkboxes in Excel?
Many Excel users tend to create drop down list with multiple checkboxes in order to select multiple items from the list per time. Actually, you can’t create a list with multiple checkboxes with Data Validation. In this tutorial, we are going to show you two methods to create drop down list with multiple checkboxes in Excel. This tutorial provides the method to solve the problem.

More tutorials for drop down list...


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Comments (29)
Rated 3.5 out of 5 · 1 ratings
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, I'm trying to find a way of auto-populating a cell which displays the value selected from a filter. So, if my filter was days of the week, and I selected "Wednesday", I need another cell to just display Wednesday. I have tried linking cells, but was unsuccessful. I've also tried some basic VBA, but this didn't work either! I am certainly no excel expert, but I must be doing something wrong as I wouldn't have expected it to be so difficult! Please can you help?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi! I am a freelance excel expert and accepting any kind of excel job.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Thank you for this post. This solved my Excel question in two minutes. It was way easier to understand and follow than any other page I looked at. That includes Microsoft's web page.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Brilliant, thank you for the simple answer
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I'm attempting to do this exact thing where the dropdown list has almost 500 items (Facility), and I want excel to automatically populate the adjacent cell with the correct state. I already had the menu list on a separate sheet, Menus, and I added a column to the right for State. Sheet 1 (ID List) looks something like this: A1 | B1 |...| J1 | K1 Lname | Fname |...| Facility | State Menu sheet contains the data for the dropdown and auto-populate values: C D Facility | State Aliceville | AL Lancaster | AL Hughes | TX So my formula looks like this: =VLOOKUP(J5,Menus!B2:C483,2,FALSE) The problem is when I copy the formula in the State cell to other cells, either by copying the first cell, and pasting into another cell or a range or cells; or by selecting the cell and dragging down - excel correctly changes the formula for the cell containing the drop down list (dragging down From J2, it changes to J3), but it also changes the range for the menu data: =VLOOKUP(J2,Menus!B2:C483,2,FALSE) =VLOOKUP(J3,Menus!B3:C484,2,FALSE) Forcing me to manually go in and change the menu range in each cell. This document is very fluid and I'm adding rows constantly - so I need a way to automate this without this little glitch. Solution greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
In the menu data, add $ in front of the number. =VLOOKUP(J2,Menus!B$2:C$483,2,FALSE) Notice I did not add the $ in the J2 as I assume this is the number you want to change. Then highlight the field, drag down the rest of the way through the column, and use Ctrl-D to copy and paste the formula automatically changing only the row number of the J column.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Thank you so much for this answer. I've been struggling with the same exact issue as Melissa.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, Can you tell what is a formula for this example.... ex: If any number comes between 15000-20000 in 'B column' then 'A column' automatically add ABC name and If any number comes between 21001-25000 in 'B column' then 'A column' automatically add XYZ name.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I'm trying to get a drop down list to pull up an entire table based off of what month is selected how would i go about doing that? all i can find is how to pull values from a table
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Do not download Kutools! It gives viruses to your computer.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Fake News, the add-in is not a virus
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Will this work to populate multiple columns? IE column a contains the pic list and B-D i want to auto populate with values.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I am trying to create a spreadsheet for employee evaluations. I have a series of questions and then there is a drop down box with either yes or no. I need for the yes/no drop down boxes to auto populate another box titled "call score" and for it to be a percentage value that will change with each drop down box that is used. Also, I need for this percentage to show in another field titled "Total score" and I need this box to change colors with the value. For example, if the percentage is between 92% and 100%, then the box should be highlighted blue. Does this make sense? And is this possible? Thanks in advance GNR
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi GNR,
Sorry can’t help with this, welcome to post any question about Excel to our forum: https://www.extendoffice.com/forum.html. You will get more Excel supports from our professional or other Excel fans.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
thanks for the code, but it only works for me in the first list, I have some inderect lists after the first that don't show any value. Is there any solution? Thanks in advance. ;)
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Good day,
In the formula, please change the number 2 to the list you need. For example, if the returned value locates in the third column of your range, please change 2 to 3.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, I have tried this and keep getting error #NA in the field ... Anyone know how to fix this.

For reference, I am trying to auto-populate contact information when the person selects a contact name from the drop down. So if someone selects John Smith from the drop down, his company, phone number, and email will auto populate in the next couple cells.

The formula I am using is =VLOOKUP(B7;Brokers!A2:D36,3,0). Open Office keeps changing the false at the end of my formula to a 0. I tried using True in lieu of False no change. I tried adding $ before the Array range values still getting #N/A....Can anyone advise how I can get this to work
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I want to do this, but I do not want to use a drop down, the cells will be populated with a value/name from data on another sheet, sort of like a leaderboard so the names will move up and down accordingly I need certain values to follow those names up or down.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
HI I WANT TO KNOW HOW to INSERT A COMPANY NAME AND COMPANY ADDRESS AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED LIKE
RAMYA TRADE---------CHENNAI
KAVYA TRADE----------MADURAI
RAMYA TRADE----------CHENNAI
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi,
You need to prepare your data as a table range in advanced, and then apply one of the above methods.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi
I want to know the most effiecient way to create a template we can easily auto populate with corresponding information .
I'll try to explain :
I want to make a list saying : if we type the airline code ( 3 digits ) we need to deliver it to 'that' specific warehouse.
We have like 6 warehouses , each handling multiple airlines . So if we type airline code 'x' it should automatically indicate to which warehouse we should deliver .
What do I do :D , which formula is to be used , how do we select a wide range of values ( all the different ailrines )
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
If you would like the exact same data to populate in numerous cells, select the range of cells, type the data and then, Ctrl Enter. Magic!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
hi, thanks for your code. I would like to autocomplete and make multiple selections in a drop down list. Can you help me please?, thank you
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi. I've noticed that the autopopulate works only on a first name basis. If you were to type a surname or family name, you would not see it working. Any chance of fixing this?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
هل تعمل الخاصية بعد حفظ الملف على جهاز اخر ؟؟
بمعنى هل يلزم وجود الاداة على الجهاز الاخر ؟
Rated 3.5 out of 5
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi,
Formulas created by Kutools for Excel will remain after sending a workbook to someone else who does not have Kutools installed.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Спасибо, но не работает Ваша формула. Я вчера мозг сломал себе весь!
Путем перебора и подстановок вышел вот к такой формуле:

=ВПР(A6;A12:B16;2;ЛОЖЬ)

!!ВОТ ЭТА ТОЧНО РАБОТАЕТ!!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I want to make a data base on excel, but I want it to be when I choose from the dropdown list the next column must change automatically.
How do I do that.
For example from the dropdown list I will choose, Medical and then the next column must give me a date and in the same row if I change from medical to something else that date must change as well.
Can you assist me or is it impossible.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi Yolanda,

The method provided in the article is the one that automatically changes the matching data based on the selection of the drop-down list. For clarity, please provide a screenshot of your data and the result you want to get.
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