Excel edit conditional formatting rules

To edit conditional formatting rules in Excel, follow these steps carefully:

Step 1: Select the Cells with Conditional Formatting

Click and drag to select the cells where the conditional formatting rule is applied. This ensures you are editing the correct rule.

Step 2: Open Conditional Formatting Rules Manager

1. Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.

2. Click Conditional Formatting in the Styles group.

3. Choose Manage Rules.

   • On Windows, this opens the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager dialog box.

   • On Mac, the option is Edit Rules, which works similarly.

Step 3: Locate the Rule to Edit

1. In the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager, make sure Show formatting rules for: is set to the correct selection (e.g., Current Selection or This Worksheet).

2. Find the rule you want to edit in the list. Rules are listed in the order Excel applies them, from top to bottom.

Step 4: Edit the Rule

1. Select the rule you want to change.

2. Click Edit Rule.

3. The Edit Formatting Rule dialog box will appear.

4. Modify the rule type, formula, or formatting as needed. Common edits include:

   • Changing cell value conditions (e.g., greater than 100).

   • Updating formulas that determine when formatting applies.

   • Adjusting formatting styles (font color, fill color, borders).

Step 5: Apply and Confirm Changes

1. Click OK to close the Edit Formatting Rule dialog box.

2. In the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager, click Apply to apply changes to the selected cells.

3. Click OK to close the manager.

Step 6: Test the Updated Rule

Enter sample data in the cells to ensure the rule applies correctly. Conditional formatting updates automatically when cell values meet the rule conditions.

Notes and Tips

• Multiple rules can overlap; Excel applies rules based on order and Stop If True settings.

• Use formulas in rules for more complex conditions, such as highlighting every other row or comparing multiple columns.

• To delete a rule, select it in the manager and click Delete Rule.

This method works for both Windows and Mac versions of Excel, with only minor differences in menu wording.