Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Single-Use Drop-Down List.

Single-Use Drop-Down List

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 15, 2025)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021


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One of the really cool uses for the data validation feature in Excel is the ability to create a single-use drop-down list. This list allows users to select the cell and then select from a list of pre-defined values for that cell. Once the user makes a selection and moves to a different cell, the arrow for the drop-down list disappears.

Start by creating a list of the values that you want available in the drop-down list. You can create this list almost anywhere, but for design purposes it is a good idea to put the list on a different worksheet than the one where the data entry will be.

For example, let's say that you want a list of employee names. On a new worksheet, enter the employee names in any manner desired. (You probably will want to sort them in some manner.) Select the list and give it a name such as Employees. (To define a name, display the Formulas tab of the ribbon and click Define Name in the Defined Names group.) Now, back on the main worksheet, follow these steps:

  1. Select the cell where you want the drop-down list to appear.
  2. Display the Data tab of the ribbon.
  3. Click the Data Validation tool in the Data Tools group. Excel displays the Data Validation dialog box, with the Settings tab visible.
  4. Using the Allow drop-down list, choose List. (See Figure 1.)
  5. Figure 1. The Data Validation dialog box.

  6. Make sure the In-Cell Dropdown check box is selected.
  7. In the Source box, enter =Employees. (This is the name you earlier gave to the employee list.) Don't forget the equal sign; it is very important.
  8. Click OK.

Now, whenever someone selects the cell you used in step 1, they'll see a drop-down list arrow to the right of the cell. Clicking on the list provides a drop-down listing all the employees. The user can select one of the employees but cannot enter a different name. When they move to a different cell, the drop-down list disappears, but the selected value remains visible.

As a side note, if you don't want to place your data list in a worksheet, then you can enter the choices directly into the Data Validation dialog box. In step 6 (the Source box), leave out the equal sign and just enter the choices. Separate them by commas, and those are the choices that will be available to the user.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (6191) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Single-Use Drop-Down List.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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What is eight minus 3?

2025-05-16 10:09:53

J. Woolley

After you select the cell, press Alt+DownArrow.


2025-05-15 11:05:38

Mark

I answered my own question, it works.
BUT is there a way (keyboard) to make the drop down list when I select the cell instead of reaching for the mouse to click the arrow?


2025-05-15 10:45:25

Mark

So, if i add or delete "Employees" it will automatically update the drop down list?


2019-07-29 12:42:54

Dave

Eric,

I believe Mr. Wyatt was a tad unclear when he mentioned a "single use" list. From what he described, the list would be visible when the cell was selected. Once you made a choice, the list would go away. But if you changed your mind, you could re-select a new choice off the list just as you selected your first choice.

I believe what Mr. Wyatt was trying to describe was simply that the list disappears after you select your choice.


2019-07-29 12:12:13

Eric

What if you make a mistake and select the wrong name and don't realize it until after you have saved the file. What did you do to make it "single use". This seems to be the exact way that I have used this feature in the past and I was always able to go back and edit, either in the current session, or in a subsequent session.


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