How to remove duplicates but keep first instance in excel

Duplicate values in your Excel worksheet can mess up your data. Unless duplicates are intentional, they can cause inaccuracies and skewed reporting.

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to find and remove duplicates in your Excel document.

How to Find Duplicate Row or Data

It’s essential to first check which rows (or columns) have identical information.

How to identify duplicates in excel without deleting

So before we show you how to remove duplicates in Excel, let’s walk you through the process of checking your sheet for duplicate data.

Method 1: Search Entire Worksheet

Excel has a Conditional Formatting tool that helps to identify, visualize, and draw conclusions from data.

Here’s how to use the tool to highlight duplicate values in your Excel document.

1. Press Control + A to select your list or table. Alternatively, click the Select All icon at the top-left corner of the table to select the entire worksheet.

1. Go to the Home tab and click the Conditional Formatting drop-down button.

1. Move your cursor over Highlight Cell Rules and select Duplicate Values.

1. Make sure the first drop-down box
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