How to change color if two cells are not equal in Excel?

When working with two lists in Excel, you might need to highlight discrepancies by changing the color of cells where adjacent values are not equal. This can help quickly identify mismatches and inconsistencies in your data. In this guide, we will explore two effective methods for achieving this. Whether you're looking for a manual method or a quicker, automated solution, we've got you covered.

Color cells if not equal with Conditional Formatting

1. Select two list you compare if equal to each other, and click Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.

2. In the New Formatting Rule dialog, choose Use a formula to determine which cells to format, and type this formula =$A1<>$B1 into the Format values where this formula true. Then click Format to open Format Cells dialog, and select one color under Fill tab. See screenshot:

3. Click OK > OK. Then the cells will be colored if the two cells are not equal to each other.

Easily color cells if not equal with Kutools for Excel

If you want to quickly identify and highlight cells where two adjacent cells are not equal, Kutools for Excel’s Select Same & Different Cells utility offers a more streamlined solution compared to Conditional Formatting. Unlike Conditional Formatting, which requires complex rule setup and may be time-consuming, Kutools simplifies the process with just a few clicks. It allows you to easily select and highlight cells across two specified columns where values differ, saving you time and effort while ensuring accurate results.

After installing Kutools for Excel, click Kutools > Select > Select Same & Different Cells. Then configure the dialog box as follows.

1. In the Find Values in box, select the column that you want to compare.
2. In the According to box, choose the column to compare against.
3. In the Base on section, select the Each row option.
4. In the Find section, choose the Different Values option.
5. Check the Fill backcolor option, choose a fill color, and click OK.

   

Result

The cells in the first selected column that do not match the corresponding cells in the specified column will be highlighted with the fill color you selected.

Demo