Skip to main content

Explore the new, free version of Kutools for Outlook today!

 

How to prevent or disable typing in a combo box in Excel?

Author: Siluvia Last Modified: 2024-09-26

By default, you can manually input value in a combo box. If you want to prevent value from being typed in a combo box, the following methods can help you.

Prevent or disable typing in a combo box by changing its properties
Prevent or disable typing in a combo box by using VBA code

Prevent or disable typing in a combo box by changing its properties

You can change the properties of the combo box to prevent typing in Excel. Please do as follows.

1. Make sure that the Design Mode is turned on under Developer tab.

2. Right click the Combo Box you want to disable typing, then click Properties from the right-clicking menu. See screenshot:

Right click the Combo Box, then click Properties

3. In the Properties dialog box, select 2 – fmStyleDropDownList from the Style drop-down list, and then close this dialog box. See screenshot:

select 2 – fmStyleDropDownList from the Style drop-down list

And then exit the Design Mode, now you can’t type values in this Combo Box any more.

a screenshot of kutools for excel ai

Unlock Excel Magic with Kutools AI

  • Smart Execution: Perform cell operations, analyze data, and create charts—all driven by simple commands.
  • Custom Formulas: Generate tailored formulas to streamline your workflows.
  • VBA Coding: Write and implement VBA code effortlessly.
  • Formula Interpretation: Understand complex formulas with ease.
  • Text Translation: Break language barriers within your spreadsheets.
Enhance your Excel capabilities with AI-powered tools. Download Now and experience efficiency like never before!

Prevent or disable typing in a combo box by using VBA code

You can also use the below VBA code to prevent typing in a combo box in Excel.

1. Make sure that the Design Mode is turned on under Developer tab.

2. Right click the combo box you want to disable typing, then click View Code from the right-clicking menu.

Right click the combo box, then click View Code

3. In the popping up Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, please replace the original VBA code in the Code window with the below VBA code.

VBA code: Prevent typing in a Combo Box in Excel

Private Sub ComboBox1_KeyPress(ByVal KeyAscii As MSForms.ReturnInteger)
    KeyAscii = 0
End Sub

Note: in the code, ComboBox1 is the name of the combo box you need to prevent value typing. You can change it as you need.

4. Press the Alt + Q keys to close the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, and turn off the Design Mode under the Developer tab.

Now you can’t manually input values in this Combo Box any more.

Related articles:

Best Office Productivity Tools

🤖 Kutools AI Aide: Revolutionize data analysis based on: Intelligent Execution   |  Generate Code  |  Create Custom Formulas  |  Analyze Data and Generate Charts  |  Invoke Kutools Functions…
Popular Features: Find, Highlight or Identify Duplicates   |  Delete Blank Rows   |  Combine Columns or Cells without Losing Data   |   Round without Formula ...
Super Lookup: Multiple Criteria VLookup  |   Multiple Value VLookup  |   VLookup Across Multiple Sheets   |   Fuzzy Lookup ....
Advanced Drop-down List: Quickly Create Drop Down List   |  Dependent Drop Down List   |  Multi-select Drop Down List ....
Column Manager: Add a Specific Number of Columns  |  Move Columns  |  Toggle Visibility Status of Hidden Columns  |  Compare Ranges & Columns ...
Featured Features: Grid Focus   |  Design View   |   Big Formula Bar   |  Workbook & Sheet Manager   |  Resource Library (Auto Text)   |  Date Picker   |  Combine Worksheets   |  Encrypt/Decrypt Cells   |  Send Emails by List   |  Super Filter   |   Special Filter (filter bold/italic/strikethrough...) ...
Top 15 Toolsets:  12 Text Tools (Add Text, Remove Characters, ...)   |   50+ Chart Types (Gantt Chart, ...)   |   40+ Practical Formulas (Calculate age based on birthday, ...)   |   19 Insertion Tools (Insert QR Code, Insert Picture from Path, ...)   |   12 Conversion Tools (Numbers to Words, Currency Conversion, ...)   |   7 Merge & Split Tools (Advanced Combine Rows, Split Cells, ...)   |   ... and more

Supercharge Your Excel Skills with Kutools for Excel, and Experience Efficiency Like Never Before. Kutools for Excel Offers Over 300 Advanced Features to Boost Productivity and Save Time.  Click Here to Get The Feature You Need The Most...

Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier

  • Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
  • Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
  • Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!