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How to conditionally format or highlight first occurrences (all unique values) in Excel?

Author Siluvia Last modified

In a data list, duplicates may appear multiple times. Sometimes, you may want to highlight or conditionally format only the first occurrence of each unique entry in a column. This tutorial will guide you step-by-step on how to conditionally format the first occurrence in Excel.

Conditionally format/highlight first occurrence in Excel
Easily highlight first occurrence (all unique values) with Kutools for Excel

Conditionally format/highlight first occurrence in Excel

For example, you have a list of data as below screenshot shown. For highlighting every first occurrence of each unique entry, please do as follow.

A screenshot of the data list for highlighting first occurrences in Excel

1. Select the range with the data you want to format.

2. Create a new conditional formatting rule with clicking Conditional Formatting > New Rule under Home tab.

A screenshot showing the New Rule option in Conditional Formatting

3. In the New Formatting Rule dialog box, you can:

1). Select Use a formula to determine which cells to format in the Select a Rule Type box;
2). Copy and paste the formula =COUNTIF(A$1:A1,A1)=1 (A1 is the start data of your selected column, you can change it to your need)into the Format values where this formula is true box;
3). Click the Format button. See screenshot:

A screenshot of the New Formatting Rule dialog with formula for highlighting first occurrences

4. In the Format Cells dialog box, specify format as you need, and then click the OK button.

5. Then it returns to the New Formatting Rule dialog box, click the OK button.

Then the conditional formatting is added to every first occurrence of each unique entry in the column. See screenshot:

A screenshot showing the result of conditional formatting for first occurrences

Easily highlight first occurrence (all unique values) with Kutools for Excel

With Kutools for Excel’s Select Duplicate & Unique Cells utility, you can easily highlight the first occurrence (all unique values) in Excel. Please do as follows.

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1. Select the range with all unique values you want to highlight, and then click Kutools > Select > Select Duplicate & Unique Cells. 

A screenshot of Kutools for Excel's Select Duplicate & Unique Cells utility in Excel

2. In the Select Duplicate & Unique Cells dialog box, select All unique (Including 1st duplicates) option, check the Fill backcolor box and specify a highlighted color from the drop-down list, and finally click the OK button. In the following popping up dialog box, click the OK button. See screenshot:

A screenshot of the Select Duplicate & Unique Cells dialog

Now you can see all first occurrences (all unique values) in selected list are highlighted with specified background color.

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