How to Add Drop Down List in Google Sheets: 2 Quick Methods
Drop down lists are helpful when you want error-free and quick data entry. Such a spreadsheet data validation system also gives you the power to keep the worksheet free from junk and invalid data.
That’s why hundreds of thousands of Google Sheets users want to learn how to add drop down list in Google Sheets. Find below the easiest and fastest methods to create a drop down list.
How to Add Drop Down List in Google Sheets
1. Create a Drop Down List From a Range
Let’s consider there’s a list of tasks in column A of your worksheet, and you want to pick a task from that list in columns B, C, D, E, F, and G that represents various task statuses. Try the following steps instead of typing the name manually:
- Select a cell under the column B header and right-click.
- On the context menu that appears, hover the cursor on View more cell actions.
- Now, click on Data validation on the second context menu that appears.
- On the Data validation screen, the preselected Criteria are List from a range.
- Click the box beside List from a range and select the list of tasks under column A.
- Select Ok on the Select a data range message box.
- Now, select Reject input besides the On invalid data option.
- Provide instructions to the user by enabling the Show validation help text.
- Below the Show validation help text option, type the instruction text.
- Click Save to create the drop down list.
- Copy the cell and paste it under other task statuses headers.
- Use the Paste special option and then select Data validation only for pasting.
That’s about it! You can now click on the drop down arrow to add the task under the right task statuses column.
2. Create a Drop Down List of Items
So far, you’ve got a detailed status view of the tasks at hand. Now, you want a general task audit status row at the bottom of each task statuses columns.
The purpose is that someone audited the tasks and mark the statuses columns as Audited, Not Audited, Pending Deliverables. To accomplish this, you’ll need a manual drop down list, and here are the steps you must try:
- Select a cell under column B where you want to put audit status drop down.
- Follow the steps mentioned earlier to bring out the Data validation screen.
- Click the drop down arrow beside Criteria and select List of items.
- Now enter Audited, Not Audited, and Pending Deliverables statuses.
- You need to separate the items using only a comma.
- Click Save to complete the drop down list.
- Copy-paste the cell to other columns.
Now, audit and put a status below each task status by simply using the drop down list.
Final Words
Now that you’ve found out how to add drop down list in Google Sheets, it should be easier for you to manage complicated and critical data entry sheets effortlessly.
The drop down lists are helpful in Google Sheets that deal with task management, data dashboards, student scorecard visualization, and so on.
Also, if you’re using Google Sheets on the Chrome web browser and feeling sluggish or choppy performance, you may want to try the clear cache on Chrome browser trick.
