How to Edit a Drop-Down List in Excel in 3 Different Ways

Here are three different ways to edit a drop-down list in Excel:

Method 1: Using Data Validation

1. Select the Cell: Click on the cell containing the drop-down list.
2. Go to Data Tab: In the Excel ribbon, navigate to the “Data” tab.
3. Data Validation: Click on “Data Validation” in the “Data Tools” group.
4. Edit the List Entries:
   • In the Data Validation dialog box, go to the “Settings” tab.
   • In the “Allow” dropdown, select “List.”
   • In the “Source” box, you’ll see the existing list range. Modify the range or add new values, separating them by commas.
   • Click “OK” to apply the changes.

Method 2: Using Named Ranges

1. Edit the Named Range:
   • Go to the “Formulas” tab in the Excel ribbon.
   • Click on “Name Manager” in the “Defined Names” group.
   • Find and select the name associated with your drop-down list.
   • Edit the “Refers to” value to update the list’s range.
2. Update the Drop-Down List Cell:
   • Select the cell with the drop-down list.
   • Go to the “Data” tab.
   • Click on “Data Validation” in the “Data Tools” group.
   • In the “Source” box, you can leave it empty, or you can reselect the range associated with the named range you edited.

Method 3: Using a Table (Excel 2013 and Later)

1. Convert to Table:
   • Select the cells containing your existing drop-down list.
   • Go to the “Insert” tab in the Excel ribbon.
   • Click on “Table.”
2. Edit the Table Column:
   • Click on the filter arrow in the column header of the drop-down list.
   • Click on “Filter” to open the filter dropdown.
   • You can add or remove items in the filter dropdown. This will automatically update your drop-down list.

Remember that these methods might have different steps based on the version of Excel you’re using. When editing drop-down lists, ensure you maintain data integrity and avoid errors while updating the list values.