Excel - Conditional Formatting

What is Conditional Formatting?

Conditional formatting allows users to format a range of cells automatically only if the condition is True. Conditions are the rules that apply to the field values. Conditional Formatting improves the visibility of the worksheet by highlighting only those crucial cell values upon which the condition is matched.

It can be difficult for beginners to find the Conditional Formatting button in Microsoft Excel. To find it, switch to the Home tab and select the Conditional Formatting button under the Styles group.

You can utilize the various built-in options, such as "Highlight Cell rules," "Top/Bottom Rules", "Data Bars", "Color Scales", and "Icon Sets" presented inside the Conditional Formatting button.

Use of Conditional Formatting in Excel

You may also set the New rule that contains Conditional Formatting Formula, Clear Rules, and Manage rules under the Conditional Formatting button.

Lets say you wish to highlight cells with values greater than 2500 in the Total column. Select the cell range F2:F5, expand the "Conditional Formatting", select the "Highlight Cells Rules," and choose the "Less Than" option from the drop-down menu.

In the Less Than dialog box, specify 2500 in the "Format cells that are Less THAN:" section, select the "Light Red Fill with Dark Red Text" color, and click the OK button.

Therefore, the cells whose values are less than 2500 will be highlighted in a selected color.

Remove Conditional Formatting in Excel

• Open an active worksheet from where you intend to remove the conditional formatting.
• You can select the "Conditional Formatting" option, expand the "Clear Rules" from the drop-down menu, and choose any of the options, either "Clear Rules from Selected Cells" or "Clear Rules from Entire Sheet."
• The first option will be chosen if rules from the specified range of cells are being removed. If more than one rules/condition are defined earlier in the worksheet, then in that case, you can choose the "Cleat Rules from Entire Sheet".

For instance, to remove Conditional formatting in the F column, first select the cell range F3:F5. Then select "Clear Rules from Selected Cells" as shown below −

Therefore, the conditional formatting has been removed from the F column.