Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Duplicate Rows in Excel
There are several methods to remove duplicate rows in Excel. However, one of the most popular and easy methods is to use the built-in functionality to remove duplicate rows. Here is a step-by-step guide to remove duplicates in Excel.
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Select the Data.
Select the data you want to clean, including column headers (e.g., Name, Department, Email).
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Go to the Data Tab.
On the Excel ribbon, click the Data tab.
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Choose Remove Duplicates.
In the Data Tools group, click Remove Duplicates.
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Configure Columns.
A dialog box appears. Select the columns to check for duplicates. By default, all columns are selected. Uncheck the columns you don’t want to include in the duplicate check (e.g., if you only want to check one column for duplicates).
For this example, select all columns: Name, Department, and Email. -
Click OK.
Excel will scan the dataset and remove duplicate rows. A prompt will show how many duplicates were removed and how many unique rows remain.
Remove Duplicate Rows in Excel – Tips and Best Practices
- If you want to keep a copy of the data before starting to remove duplicate rows in Excel, consider creating a backup of your worksheet.
- If you want to keep the first occurrence of a duplicate and remove the rest, Excel automatically does this when you use the “Remove Duplicates” feature.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can Duplicate Rows be Highlighted Instead of Deleting?
Yes, using Conditional Formatting, duplicates can be highlighted.
Go to the Home tab, click Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cell Rules > Duplicate Values.
Is it Possible to Undo Removed Duplicate Rows?
You can undo it immediately by pressing Ctrl + Z after removing duplicates.
