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How to always show arrow of data validation list in Excel?

In general, the arrow in data validation list only show while you click at the cell of drop down list, if not, the arrow is hide as below screenshot shown. Sometimes, you may forget the location of the drop down list without its arrow shown. In this article, I introduce a trick to always show the arrow of data validation list for you to quickly find and locate the drop down list in Excel.


arrow blue right bubble Always show arrow of data validation list with a symbol inserting

There is no directly way to show data validation list arrow all the time, here I introduce a roundabout way for you.

1. Select the first cell right to the data validation list, here is D1, and click Insert > Symbol. See screenshot:
doc always show data validation arrow 2

2. In the Symbol dialog, under Symbols tab, select Wingdings 3 from the Font drop down list, and select down arrow from the list section. See screenshot:
doc always show data validation arrow 3

3. Click Insert and close the dialog, then the down array has been inserted in D1. Then resize D1 as same size as the arrow of data validation list. See screenshot:
doc always show data validation arrow 4

4. Then go to format the symbol to a real arrow button. Select D1, and click Home > Fill color to select Gray 25/% Background 2 and then select White, Bacground1, Darker 50% from Font color list. See screenshot:
doc always show data validation arrow 5

Now even when no clicking at the Data Validation list, the arrow is always showing.
doc always show data validation arrow 6


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