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BrentM500's avatar
BrentM500
Copper Contributor
Mar 12, 2023

Excel AutoComplete not working with Data Validation Lists even after following all fix suggestions

Hi,

I would appreciate help with AutoComplete in Excel.

 

Problem:

- Data Validation List created does not show suggestions when typing valid entries in the dropdown cell

- Clicking on the dropdown shows the list but typing while the list is dropped down does nothing

- Just typing directly into the cell types the characters but does not provide suggestions for matching entries to choose from

- Case doesn't seem to matter - inputting the exact case of the text or all in lower case makes no difference

 

Things tried:

- Checked that "Enable AutoComplete for cell values" and "Automatically Flash Fill" are checked (tried while removing "Automatically Flash Fill" turned off but no difference)

- Made sure "Ignore Blank" and "In-cell Dropdown" are checked

- Made sure there are no headers above the list data linked to the dropdown

- Opened new sheet and tried from zero with no luck

- Tried with both .xlsx and .xlsm files

 

I'm at a loss here.  Any recommendations appreciated..

 

Thank You,

 

Brent

  • Excel desktop will get those features you are asking for in the near future. Currently, this only works in Excel on-line and on the Insider version of Excel.
  • Le_Ha_Phuong's avatar
    Le_Ha_Phuong
    Copper Contributor
    I am running office version 2404 and still cannot use the autofill for dropdowns.
  • Update... AutoComplete for dropdown lists feature is now available in Current Channel starting with version 2306 build 16.0.16501.20004 or later!

     

    When you see it please try it out! We’d love to hear from you whether this meets your expectations or not. Please send us feedback!

     

    thanx,

    Prash

    • prakashkp's avatar
      prakashkp
      Copper Contributor

      my version -Microsoft® Excel® 2021 MSO (Version 2404 Build 16.0.17531.20152) 64-bit, but not working this feature

    • valawcom's avatar
      valawcom
      Copper Contributor

      Prash_MSFT, any update on this? I am running Version 2308 (Build 16731.20600) and autofill for dropdowns is not working. 

      • briannahoo's avatar
        briannahoo
        Copper Contributor
        Nothing on my side yet, I am running Version 2403 and still cannot use the autofill for dropdowns.
    • briannahoo's avatar
      briannahoo
      Copper Contributor

      Prash_MSFT I am running Version 2311 (Build 17029.20068) and am still not able to use the autocomplete feature with my data validation lists. Do you have any insight into what I need to do to access this feature? I can use it on my office computer with a different login, I am just not there now to access the version I have there. 

      • jasonvr's avatar
        jasonvr
        Copper Contributor

        briannahoo Did you ever get an answer to this?  I've got the same problem (though I'm running Version 2311 Build 17029.20108) and I can't get auto-complete to work.  Are you using Office 365 or do you have a non-subscription based perpetual version?  I've got a perpetual version (Professional Plus 2021) and I'm wondering if that is the problem.

  • The AutoComplete for drop-down lists feature on Excel for Windows was in the process of rolling out to all Current Channel customers. As we roll it out, we also ensure things are working smoothly before we expand our rollout to larger numbers of users. Sometimes, based on user feedback, we find things aren't working as expected. This is rare. That said, we have confirmed one such issue, so we have rolled back (a.k.a. turned off) AutoComplete for drop-down lists for all our Current Channel users.

    We apologize for any inconvenience this is causing you. We are working hard to fix the issue as we speak in order to restart rolling out AutoComplete for drop-down lists in Current Channel as soon as we can.

    thanx,
    Prash
    • NickBerlow's avatar
      NickBerlow
      Copper Contributor

      Prash_MSFT 

      Thanks Prash.

      Good to know it will be rolled out ASAP once the bugs are fixed. It's a really neat feature and no more messy crazy VBA or formulas or helper columns to get this working.

      Cheers, have a good day.

      • muibeta's avatar
        muibeta
        Copper Contributor

        This feature is available once more with this week's Microsoft 365 update.

  • BrentM_500's avatar
    BrentM_500
    Copper Contributor

    Hi all,

     

    Interesting to see what you guys are seeing here..

     

    Looks like there's varying results due to MSFT being in the middle of rolling the Beta functionality out slowly instead of all at once.

     

    I just checked and mine is working OK.  I'm on Version 2305 (Build 16414.20000) - Beta Channel.

     

    I need my app to work on my sister's MAC Excel, which I don't know yet if the MAC OS version will have this functionality and I can't find anything about MAC OS users being able to participate in the Beta Channel.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Brent

    • zorgnum's avatar
      zorgnum
      Brass Contributor
      I'm on Version 2303 (Build 16227.20280 Click-to-Run) and the autocomplete was working fine, then it just stopped yesterday. No updates are available and none have been done to explain what happened. It's really flaky performance from Microsoft, and I have to pay for support to have them explain why they can't provide something more stable.
  • C_Nybs's avatar
    C_Nybs
    Copper Contributor
    My ability to use autocomplete dropdowns also disappeared as of yesterday. Hoping they reinstate this feature soon.
  • PAPostl's avatar
    PAPostl
    Copper Contributor
    Any update on why they disabled the feature and if they will bring it back? It was very useful, especially for colleagues that did not work with excel as much..
  • sussington's avatar
    sussington
    Copper Contributor
    So here has been my strange experience with this. I and a colleague within my organization are working from the same shared Excel worksheet. We both have the same version of Excel and we both have the workbook open in the desktop version of Excel. I have access to the AutoComplete feature with the Data Validation lists, but my colleague does not.
    • JKPieterse's avatar
      JKPieterse
      Silver Contributor
      This is because features may be gradually distributed to users. A random part of the users on a certain build will get feature A, the others will not. The more certain MSFT is about an update, the higher the percentage that gets it first time round.

      Your colleague should see this feature enabled in due course.
      • NickBerlow's avatar
        NickBerlow
        Copper Contributor

        JKPieterse 

        Hello Jan, do you have any approximate date or time frame that Microsoft will bring this feature back? It's so very useful for a range of business applications and for when designing data entry sheets for users with low excel skill/knowledge.

        Thanks.

  • JKPieterse's avatar
    JKPieterse
    Silver Contributor
    Excel desktop will get those features you are asking for in the near future. Currently, this only works in Excel on-line and on the Insider version of Excel.
    • meadowsst's avatar
      meadowsst
      Copper Contributor

      JKPieterse 

      I just experienced this issue with one of my clients who just got a new laptop and installed MSOffice365 (desktop version) after having used the workbook template for months without any issue on his old laptop.

       

      The issue was that the version of Office365 that was installed on his new laptop was Ver 220x.  I had him upgrade Office365 (end result was Ver 2403) and the autocomplete with validation drop-down lists functionality started working as it does for everyone else in his company using the same workbook template.

      • briannahoo's avatar
        briannahoo
        Copper Contributor

        meadowsst Interesting, I am currently running V2403 on my computer at home. I will have to double check the version I have at the office. 

    • zorgnum's avatar
      zorgnum
      Brass Contributor
      I'm not on the Insider version, it was working perfectly for me, it started working for a friend of mine, my son can't get it to work and it has just stopped working for me in the last 24 hours.

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