How to prevent copy and paste over cell with drop down list in Excel?

For a cell with data validation drop down list, when copy content from another cell and paste to it, the drop down list will be gone and replaced with the new pasting content. In some cases, you want to prevent copy and paste other content over the cell with drop down list, what would you do to deal with it? In this article, you will get a VBA method of dealing with this problem.

Prevent copy and paste over cell with drop down list in Excel

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arrow blue right bubble Prevent copy and paste over cell with drop down list in Excel

1. Open the worksheet with the drop down list cell you want to prevent copy and paste.

2. Press Alt + F11 keys simultaneously to open the Microsoft Visual Basic Applications window.

3. In the Microsoft Visual Basic Applications window, double click the current worksheet name in the left pane, then copy and paste the below VBA code into the Code editor. See screenshot:

VBA code: Prevent copy and paste over cell with drop down list

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
	Dim xValue As String
	Dim xCheck1 As String
	Dim xCheck2 As String
	If Target.Count > 1 Then
		Exit Sub
		End If
		Application.EnableEvents = False
		xValue                   = Target.Value
		On Error Resume Next
		xCheck1                  = Target.Validation.InCellDropdown
		On Error GoTo 0
		Application.Undo
		On Error Resume Next
		xCheck2 = Target.Validation.InCellDropdown
		On Error GoTo 0
		If xCheck1 = xCheck2 Then
			Target = xValue
		Else
			MsgBox "No pasting allowed!"
		End If
		Application.EnableEvents = True
	End Sub

4. Press Alt + Q keys to exit the Microsoft Visual Basic Applications window.

5. When you paste content to a cell with drop down list, a dialog box will pop up to remind you the pasting is no allowed. See screenshot:

Note: This VBA just work in single cell pasting. If you copy and paste in multiple cells, it won’t work.

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  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Eva · 2 years ago
    I works BUT after you put the code you cannot UNDO anything. Not a single step back is allowed.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Dilip · 3 years ago
    No, I did not figure it out. I didn't try to resolve after a while.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    arvind raj · 3 years ago
    did you manage to resolve the issue of copying and pasting into multiple cells? Thanks in advance!
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Amit Jain · 3 years ago
    Hi Dilip,

    are you able to fix the issue of allowing data using paste values
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Amit Jain · 3 years ago
    Hi Dilip,

    are you able to fix the issue of allowing data using paste values..i am also facing the same issue..help me on this please
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    jepson · 4 years ago
    Thank you very much !! works fine for me !!!
    copying into a single cell is restricted.
    but if i copy a list of cells and paste.., the paste is accepted. let me see if i can tune this up ..thanks anyways
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      G · 3 years ago
      Jepson, did you manage to resolve the issue of copying and pasting into multiple cells? Thanks in advance!
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Abhijeet · 4 years ago
    Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    Dim xValue As String
    Dim xCheck1 As String
    Dim xCheck2 As String
    If Target.Count > 1 Then
    Exit Sub
    End If
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    xValue = Target.Value
    On Error Resume Next
    xCheck1 = Target.Validation.InCellDropdown
    On Error GoTo 0
    Application.Undo
    On Error Resume Next
    xCheck2 = Target.Validation.InCellDropdown
    On Error GoTo 0
    If xCheck1 = xCheck2 Then
    Target = xValue
    Else
    MsgBox "No pasting allowed!"
    End If
    Application.EnableEvents = True
    End Sub
    This Macro not work when copy from different workbook or worksheet then so please tell me how to avoid these things also
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    chandan · 4 years ago
    Hi,

    above mention vba code is not run.kindly resolve.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Jai · 4 years ago
    Hi,

    While I running this macro I got this debug error "Application.Undo". Pls resolve this ASAP
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Dilip · 5 years ago
    This works but when I paste value this is allowing data which is not from the drop down list. Any way to restrict any value which is not from the list.
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      Rao · 3 years ago
      Hi Dilip,

      Did you able to resolve the issue, i too having similar issue. I have to allow copy,paste only for drop down values in the data validation cell other i have to restrict. Can you share your solution.

      Thanks
      Rao