Top 10 Microsoft Excel Tips and Tricks

Microsoft Excel is a tool at the fingertips of every kind of professional.

Are you crunching numbers, cleaning data, or managing reports? It is good for Microsoft Excel to carry features that can equate to saving hours of your precious time each week with everyday use. These tips will work for Microsoft Excel versions like 365, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, as well as Excel for Windows and Excel for Mac.

These 10 Tips are useful to everyone using the Microsoft Excel Dashboard. When you use your very customised Dashboard, tailored to your very own requirements, you can complete work in the fastest time possible.

1. Use Flash Fill to Automate Data Entry

Flash Fill will go ahead and fill in the values upon recognising a pattern. It is useful for splitting names, formatting dates, or generating emails.

Shortcut: Ctrl + E
Tabs: Data → Flash Fill

2. Use the IF Function

The IF function returns a value in case the condition is met.

Syntax: =IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false)
Example: =IF(A2>100, "High", "Low")

3. Use Conditional Formatting to Highlight Important Data

Use a conditional format to fill cell colours on the basis of rules.

Tabs: Home → Conditional Formatting
Good for overdue dates, top performers, or budget overruns

4. Create Drop-Down Lists from Validated Data

Entries from respective lists are limited.

Tabs: Data → Data Validation → List
Good for forms, surveys, and controlled inputs

5. Freeze Panes to Keep Headers in View

Make headers or columns stay visible while scrolling.

Tab: View → Freeze Panes
Tip: Select cell B2 to freeze the top row and the first column

6. Convert Data to Tables: Regarding Management

Tables auto-expand, structured references, and filtering are built-in features.

Shortcut: Ctrl + T
Tab: Insert → Table

7. Use VLOOKUP for Retrieving Matching Data

Get the data from one table, based on its common key, in another table.

Syntax: =VLOOKUP(value, table, column, FALSE)
Try XLOOKUP (Excel 365/2021): As a replacement

8. Keyboard Shortcuts for Speed

9. Summarise Data with PivotTables

Use a quick drag-and-drop summary to analyse big datasets.

Tab: Insert → PivotTable
Total sales, count transactions, average scores

10. Conditional Sums by SUMIF

Add values that satisfy the criteria.

Syntax: =SUMIF(range, criteria, sum_range)
Example: =SUMIF(A2:A10, "East", B2:B10)

Regardless of whether you are a Beginner or a Pro, these 10 tips will boost your productivity immensely.

Attempt to apply a new tip every day, and note how many hours you would save.

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