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How to show the arrow of dropdown list in Excel?

Author Siluvia Last modified

By default, the arrows of the data validation dropdown lists will not display until you click on the cells. Actually, there is no way to show the arrows of dropdown list directly in the worksheet. In this tutorial, we will show you how to mark all cells with data validation dropdown list with the same color at once in order to easily figure out them in worksheet.

Show the arrow of dropdown list with adding color to them at once

Show the arrow of dropdown list with adding color to them at once

As the arrow of dropdown list cannot be displaced automatically until clicking the cell. You can change the color of them at once for easily recognizing them among other cells. Please do as follows.

1. Open the worksheet which the dropdown lists locate, click on the A screenshot of Excel showing button to select whole worksheet button on the top left corner of the worksheet to select the whole sheet.

A screenshot of Excel with entire worksheet selected

2. Click Find & Select > Go To under Home tab.

A screenshot of Excel highlighting the Find & Select> Go To option

Or you can press Ctrl + G at the same time to open the Go To dialog box.

3. In the Go To dialog box, click the Special button. See screenshot:

A screenshot of the Go To dialog box

4. In the Go To Special dialog box, check the Data validation and All options, and then click the OK button.

A screenshot of the Go To Special dialog box with Data Validation option selected

5. Then all cells with data validation dropdown list are selected.

A screenshot of Excel with cells containing dropdowns selected

6. Go to the Home tab, click the Expand arrow arrow besides the Fill Color icon, and select a color for the selected cells. Here I choose the Blue color. See screenshot:

A screenshot of Excel showing the Fill Color dropdown menu

7. Now all cells with data validation dropdown list are filled by blue color. You can figure out cells contain dropdown list with other cells by colors.

A screenshot of Excel with cells containing dropdowns highlighted in blue

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