how to create a drop down list in google sheets

Learning how to create drop down lists adds an instant cool factor to your Google Sheet skill set. This indicates that you have successfully created a drop down menu. You should sheet a small arrow in the right hand corner of the cells. Once you’ve created a drop down menu, it’s important to test it and make sure it’s working properly. Choose your invalid data option and click “Save”.Input a list of items in the text box next to your selection.Next to Criteria, select “List of Items” from the list.Select the cell in which you would like to create a drop down menu.This works better for smaller scale projects. You can also create a drop down menu by directly inputting a list of items. “Reject input” will not allow you to input the data.

“Show warning” will tell you that it is not part of a list.

Underneath this checkbox is “On invalid data.” This will tell Google Sheets how to handle data input into the drop down column on the primary sheet that is not part of the drop down list.

Click “Okay.” This will input the range into the text box.

Click in the range input box and then highlight the cells containing the list data.

With the pop-up window still open, go to the List Data sheet (Sheet 2).

There will be a blank text box next to this option where you can input the range where the drop down list will be sourced.

Next to Criteria, select “List from Range.”.

A pop-up window will appear where you may enter specifications. In column B, select all of the cells in which you want a drop down list. Drop Down “List From Range”Ĭreating a drop down list from range makes it easy to apply the list to multiple cells and create new drop down cells with consistent list options. In Column A of your List Data sheet (Sheet 2), create a list of the data you want to include in your drop down.įor instance, if you need a drop down of the colors of the rainbow the data would be: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Indigo.Column B will be reserved for the drop down that helps describe the item.Do this by going to View > Freeze > 1 row. Label Sheet 1 the title of your spreadsheet and label Sheet 2 “List Data.”.Clicking on the plus sign creates “Sheet 2.”.At the very bottom left of the spreadsheet you will see a plus sign, a menu icon, and the sheet tab name, which defaults to “Sheet 1”.

How to create a drop down list in google sheets