5 Simple Ways to Delete Excel Drop Down Lists

In the bustling world of Microsoft Excel, managing dropdown lists can streamline data entry and ensure consistency across your datasets. However, as your spreadsheets evolve, you might find the need to edit or remove these lists. Here are five straightforward methods to delete Excel dropdown lists effortlessly:

1. Deleting Dropdown Lists via the Ribbon

The simplest and most common way to delete dropdown lists:

• Select the cells containing the dropdown lists.
• Go to the Data tab on the Ribbon.
• Click Data Validation in the Data Tools group.
• In the Data Validation dialog box, switch to the Settings tab.
• Click Clear All, then OK.

2. Using Keyboard Shortcuts for Speed

If you prefer the speed of keyboard shortcuts:

• Select the cells with the dropdown list.
• Press Alt + A, then V, followed by A to open the Data Validation dialog box.
• Use the Tab key to navigate to Clear All, then press Enter.

🕒 Note: Remember to deselect the cells after you've cleared the validation to avoid accidental reapplication.

3. Editing Dropdown Lists Manually

Sometimes you only need to change the dropdown list rather than removing it entirely:

• Select the cells with the dropdown list.
• Right-click and choose Data Validation.
• In the dialog box, you can either:
  • Edit the settings to change the list contents.
  • Or, click Clear All to remove the list.

4. VBA Script for Bulk Removal

When dealing with large spreadsheets, VBA can be a lifesaver:

• Open the VBA editor with Alt + F11.
• Insert a new module by right-clicking on VBAProject > Insert > Module.
• Enter the following code:

Sub RemoveDropDownLists()
    With ActiveSheet
        .Cells.Validation.Delete
    End With
End Sub

• Run the macro by pressing F5 or by setting up a macro button.

🚫 Note: Be cautious with VBA as it can affect all cells in the active sheet.

5. Using Power Query for Dynamic Data

For advanced users, Power Query can manage dropdown lists by transforming the data:

• Go to Data > Get Data > From Other Sources > Blank Query.
• Use the Advanced Editor to write the M-code to remove dropdown lists:

let
    Source = Excel.CurrentWorkbook(){[Name=“YourWorksheetName”]}[Content],
    RemovedDropdowns = Table.RemoveColumns(Source,{“ColumnWithDropdown”})
in
    RemovedDropdowns

• Load the transformed data back into your worksheet.

The methods outlined above provide a comprehensive toolkit for managing dropdown lists in Excel. Whether you're dealing with a small set of data or a large spreadsheet system, these techniques will help you excel at managing and maintaining your data with ease. Remember to backup your work before making large-scale changes, and always consider the impact of your edits on any formulas or references within your worksheet.

Can I remove dropdown lists in bulk?

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Yes, using VBA script or Power Query, you can remove dropdown lists from multiple cells at once.

How do I identify cells with dropdown lists?

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You can use the ‘Go To Special’ feature under the Find & Select options in the Home tab to select cells with Data Validation. However, this method won’t directly tell you if they are dropdown lists, but you can then manually check.

What happens to data already entered in dropdown cells when I delete the list?

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Data entered through dropdown lists remains in place after you remove the validation. Only the dropdown itself and its restrictions are removed.