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birraraffo099's avatar
birraraffo099
Copper Contributor
Oct 14, 2025

Excel autofill options not appearing after dragging cell down

I've read several posts but still can't get the autofill options to appear. In my online version of Excel, however, it appears

4 Replies

  • NikolinoDE's avatar
    NikolinoDE
    Platinum Contributor

    The “Autofill Options” button (the small box that appears right after you drag, offering choices like Copy Cells, Fill Series, Fill Formatting Only, etc.) does NOT appear in Excel Online.

    That feature is only available in the desktop version of Excel.

     

    So in short:

    Feature

    Excel Desktop

    Excel Online

    Drag to autofill

      Yes

      Yes

    “Autofill Options” button (smart menu after drag)

      Yes

      No

    Change fill type (copy vs. series, etc.)

      Yes

      No (limited)

    Double-click fill handle

      Yes

      Yes (fills down to adjacent data)

     

    Workaround in Excel Online:

    You can still manually control what happens:

    • Copy cells manually (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V)
    • Use formulas like =ROW() or =SEQUENCE() for series
    • Adjust patterns by typing at least two starting values (e.g., 1 and 2) before dragging — Excel Online will infer the pattern.

     

    My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

     

    Hope this will help you.

    • SergeiBaklan's avatar
      SergeiBaklan
      Diamond Contributor

      Feature is availabe in Excel for web

      In Excel desktop if we drag with left click

      And if with right click

      • NikolinoDE's avatar
        NikolinoDE
        Platinum Contributor

        Hi Sergei, so far I read In Excel for Web, you can still use left-click drag to autofill values or continue a pattern, but the right-click drag menu and Autofill Options button do not appear….as far as I could read in Excel for the web. I don’t use Excel for web daily, but if that now possible I would be happy if I was incorrect🙂. I'll try it in the next few days...anyway, thanks for the correction👍.

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