How to add yes no dropdown in excel
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To add a Yes/No dropdown in Excel, follow these steps carefully. The dropdown ensures data consistency and makes spreadsheets easier to use.
Steps to Create a Yes/No Dropdown
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Select the Cell or Range
Click the cell where you want the Yes/No dropdown. To apply the dropdown to multiple cells, select the entire range. -
Open Data Validation
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On Windows: Go to the Data tab → click Data Validation in the Data Tools group.
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On Mac: Go to Data → Validation.
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Choose Validation Criteria
In the Data Validation dialog box:-
Set Allow to List.
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In the Source field, type:
\(Yes,No\)
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Ensure there are no extra spaces between the commas and words.
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Enable Dropdown Display
Check the box In-cell dropdown. This ensures a dropdown arrow appears in the cell. -
Optional: Add Input Message and Error Alert
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Input Message: Provide guidance when the cell is selected. Example: “Select Yes or No.”
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Error Alert: Customize a message if someone types a value not in the list. Example: “Please choose Yes or No only.”
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Click OK
The selected cell(s) now display a dropdown with Yes and No as selectable options.
Notes and Tips
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You can copy the cell with the dropdown and paste it to other cells to replicate the dropdown.
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To edit the list, open Data Validation → modify the Source field.
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This dropdown works for both tables and regular cells.
Example Usage
Suppose you are tracking attendance:
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Column A: Name
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Column B: Attending?
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Column B can have a Yes/No dropdown. Selecting “Yes” indicates attendance, while “No” indicates absence.
This setup prevents typing errors like “Yse” or “N0” and maintains clean, consistent data.
This method is compatible across all Excel versions from 2010 onward.
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