Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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: Finding Cells Filled with a Particular Color.
Vanita asked if there is a way to select cells containing a specific color. Accomplishing the task is easy; just follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Find tab of the Find and Replace dialog box.
Figure 2. The Fill tab of the Find Format dialog box.
Figure 3. The expanded Find and Replace dialog box.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (6224) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Finding Cells Filled with a Particular Color.
Save Time and Supercharge Excel! Automate virtually any routine task and save yourself hours, days, maybe even weeks. Then, learn how to make Excel do things you thought were simply impossible! Mastering advanced Excel macros has never been easier. Check out Excel 2010 VBA and Macros today!
Macros are great for processing large amounts of data quickly. This tip examines several ways you can remove specific ...
Discover MoreWant to use Find and Replace to change the formatting of a cell's contents? You would be out of luck; Excel won't let you ...
Discover MoreThe Find and Replace feature in Excel is one of the workhorse editing tools you can use. When the Find and Replace dialog ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2018-08-20 17:21:50
Zolt
This wasn't working for me either (Excel 2016). Then I noticed that my Find Format had other parameters set (Number, Alignment, Font, etc), probably sticky from a previous find action. When I cleared them (Clear button on each tab), the instructions in the article worked as advertised.
2016-08-05 06:33:40
Willy Vanhaelen
@Christine
Perhaps the background color is set by conditional formatting. Find doesn't work on these.
If that is the case you can change the background color by editing the rule
- in the Home tab of the ribbon click the down arrow next to Conditional Formatting
- select Manage Rules...
- click on the rule whose format you want to change
- click Edit Rule...
- click Format
- select the color you want
2016-08-04 17:39:56
Chrisitne
I have Excel 2013 and my find feature will not find background color. I have tons of cells with one color that I need to change to another color. I do just like it says, but when I hit "Find all", it runs through my worksheet and says it cannot find anything. I choose the color by actually clicking on a cell, so I know it's exactly the correct color. Any ideas?
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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: 
Comments