Create an in-cell dropdown list

Create drop-down lists in a cell with Google Sheets.

Create a drop-down list

1. Open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
2. Select the cell or cells where you want to create a drop-down list.
3. Click Data  Data validation.
4. Next to "Criteria," choose an option:
   • List from a range: Choose the cells that will be included in the list.
   • List of items: Enter items, separated by commas and no spaces.
5. The cells will have a Down arrow. To remove the arrow, uncheck "Show dropdown list in cell."
6. If you enter data in a cell that doesn’t match an item on the list, you’ll see a warning. If you want people to only enter items from the list, choose "Reject input" next to "On invalid data."
7. Click Save. The cells will show a drop-down list. To change the color of a cell based on the option selected, use conditional formatting. 

Change or delete a drop-down list

1. Open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
2. Select the cell or cells you’d like to change.
3. Click Data  Data validation.
4. To change the options listed, edit the items next to "Criteria."
5. To delete a list, click Remove validation.
6. Click Save. If you change the contents of the range you've selected, the changes will be made in the list automatically.