How to Remove Duplicates in Excel Based on Multiple Columns?

Duplicating in Excel means creating an exact copy of something. We might need to remove duplicates in Excel when we want to make sure that there is only one instance of something in our spreadsheet. This can be important when we are working with large data sets and we need to be able to trust that the data is accurate. So, removing duplicates can help to clean up our data and make it more reliable.

However, it is important to note that removing duplicates will also delete any information that is associated with the duplicates, so we need to be careful when we do this. This article will show you how to remove duplicates in Excel so that you can keep your data clean and accurate.

Why Isn’t Remove Duplicates In Excel Not Working?

There could be a few reasons why the remove duplicates feature in Excel is not working. First, make sure that you have selected the correct range of cells. If you only want to remove duplicates from a certain column, then you need to make sure that you have selected only that column. You can do this by clicking on the column header. If you have multiple columns selected, then Excel will remove duplicates from all of those columns.

Another reason why remove duplicates might not be working is because your data has headers. If you have headers in your data, then you need to make sure that you check the box that says "My data has headers" when you are using the remove duplicates feature. This will tell Excel to ignore the headers when it is looking for duplicates.

Finally, make sure that you are using the correct criteria for removing duplicates. If you only want to remove exact duplicates, then you need to make sure that you select that option. If you want to remove duplicates and also keep the data that is in the cells, then you need to select the "keep data" option.

Wha’s the Excel Shortcut for Finding Duplicates?

The Excel shortcut for finding duplicates is to use the conditional formatting feature. To do this, select the cells you want to check for duplicates, then go to the Home tab and click on Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cell Rules > Duplicate Values.

You can also use the shortcut CTRL + F3. This shortcut will open the Find and Replace dialog box. From here, you can select the option to Find duplicates.

How to Find and Remove Duplicates in Excel Multiple Columns?

There are a few ways to find and remove duplicates in excel multiple columns. One way is to use the ‘Remove Duplicates’ function in the ‘Data’ tab. Another way is to use a macro.

Option 1. Use “Remove Duplicates” Funciton.

To use the ‘Remove Duplicates’ function, select the range of cells that you want to check for duplicates. Then, go to the ‘Data’ tab and click ‘Remove Duplicates’. In the ‘Remove Duplicates’ dialog box, make sure that all of the columns that you want to check for duplicates are selected. Then, click ‘OK’.

Option 2. Use the Advanced Filter Feature:

1. Select the column or columns that contain the data you want to remove duplicates from.
2. Go to Data > Advanced Filter.
3. In the Advanced Filter dialog box, make sure that the Filter the list, in-place option is selected.
4. In the Criteria range, enter the criteria you want to use to filter the data. For example, if you want to remove duplicates from a column of data, you would enter "=1" in the first cell and "=2" in the second cell.
5. Click OK.

Option 3. Use macro

To use a macro, first, you need to create a new macro.

  • To do this, go to the ‘Developer’ tab and click ‘Record Macro’.
  • In the ‘Record Macro’ dialog box, give your macro a name and click ‘OK’.
  • Then, select the range of cells that you want to check for duplicates.
  • Next, go to the ‘Data’ tab and click ‘Remove Duplicates’.
  • In the ‘Remove Duplicates’ dialog box, make sure that all of the columns that you want to check for duplicates are selected.
  • Then, click ‘OK’.
  • Finally, go to the ‘Developer’ tab and click ‘Stop Recording’.

These methods will remove duplicates from your data, but the Remove Duplicates feature is the simpler of the two. If you have a lot of data, or if your data is in multiple columns, you may want to use the Advanced Filter feature.

How Do I Compare 3 Columns in Excel to Find Duplicates?

To compare three columns in Excel to find duplicates, you can use the COUNTIF function with wildcards. For example, if you have three columns of data (A, B, and C) and you want to find duplicates in columns A and B, you can use the following formula:

=COUNTIF(A:A,"*"&B:B&"*")

This formula will return the number of duplicates in columns A and B. You can then use this number to identify which rows contain duplicates.

How to Remove Duplicates in Excel with Formula?

There are a few ways to remove duplicates in Excel, but using a formula is often the simplest and most effective method. To remove duplicates with a formula, you can use the COUNTIF function. This function counts the number of cells that meet a certain criteria.

In this case, the criteria is that the cell must contain the same value as the cell above it. If the cell does not meet this criteria, it is not counted.

To use the COUNTIF function, you need to enter the following into a blank cell:

=COUNTIF(A1:A10,A1)

This formula will count the number of cells in the range A1:A10 that contain the value in A1.

If there are no duplicates in the range, the formula will return 1. If there are duplicates, the formula will return a number greater than 1.

You can then use this formula to remove duplicates by creating a new column next to your data and entering the formula into the first cell of the column.

Then, you can sort your data by the values in this column and delete all rows where the value is greater than 1.

You can also use the COUNTIF function to remove duplicates by creating a new column and entering the following formula into the first cell:

=COUNTIF(A:A,A1)

This formula will count the number of cells in column A that contain the value in A1.

You can then sort your data by the values in this column and delete all rows where the value is greater than 1.

How to Remove Duplicates in Excel 365 ?

The easiest way to remove duplicates in Excel 365 is to use the built-in Remove Duplicates function. To do this, select the data you want to check for duplicates, click the Data tab on the ribbon, and then click the Remove Duplicates button.

In the Remove Duplicates dialog box, select the column or columns that contain the data you want to check for duplicates, and then click OK. Excel will remove any duplicate values and leave the unique values intact.

If you have a lot of data, you may want to check for duplicates more than once. To do this, you can use the Advanced Filter function. To use the Advanced Filter function, select the data you want to check for duplicates, click the Data tab on the ribbon, and then click the Advanced button.

In the Advanced Filter dialog box, select the column or columns that contain the data you want to check for duplicates, and then click OK. Excel will display a list of all the duplicate values in the selected columns.

Does Removing Duplicates in Excel Remove Both?

When you remove duplicates in Excel, it removes both the duplicate values and the associated data. The reason for this is that when you have duplicate values, the associated data is often inaccurate. By removing both the duplicate values and the associated data, you can ensure that your data is accurate.

Suggestions:

Removing duplicates in Excel is a great way to clean up your data and make sure that it is accurate. However, it is important to note that removing duplicates will also delete any information that is associated with the duplicates. So, make sure you are careful when you remove duplicates from your data.