How to Highlight in Excel – 6 Examples

Method 1 – Using Cell Styles to Highlight Cells

• Select cells >> go to the Home tab >>  Styles >> select Cell Styles >> choose a style. Here, Accent1.

This is the output.

Method 2 – Use the Font Color to Highlight a Text Within a Cell

• Press CTRL  >> select the target cells one by one >> go to the Home tab >> Font  >> set a color.

This is the output.

Method 3 – Applying Format Cells to Highlight an Entire Row

• Click the row index >> press CTRL+1 to display the Format Cells dialog box.
• Go to Fill >> choose a background color >> click OK.

This is the output.

Method 4 – Using a VBA Code to Highlight Alternate Rows in Excel

• Go to the Developer tab >>  Visual Basic.

• Open the VB Editor.
• In Insert  >> choose Module >> enter the following code in Module1.

Sub ColorEvenRows()
Dim my_Rng As Range
Dim my_i As Integer
Set my_Rng = Selection
For my_i = 1 To Selection.Rows.Count
    If (my_Rng.Cells(my_i, 1).Row) Mod 2 = 0 Then
        Range(my_Rng.Cells(my_i, 1), my_Rng.Cells(my_i, my_Rng.Columns.Count)). _
        Interior.Color = RGB(50, 190, 150)
    End If
Next my_i
End Sub

• Save the code and go back to the worksheet.
• Developer tab >> go to Macros >> in the Macro dialog box >>  name the macro >> click Run.

This is the output.

Method 5 – Using the Find and Replace Feature to Highlight Cells

• Select the whole data >> press CTRL+F to display the Find and Replace dialog box.
• In the Find and Replace dialog box >> go to Find >> in Find what:, enter Pencil >> in Look in, select Values >> click Find All  >> press CTRL+A to select the result.

• In the Home tab >> go to Font  >>  Fill Color >> choose a color. Cells containing “Pencil” are highlighted.

Method 6 – Use the Conditional Formatting to Highlight Cells Based on Criteria in Excel

6.1 Highlight Text Values that contain a feature

• Select the dataset >> in the Home tab >> go to Styles >> Conditional Formatting >> Highlight Cells Rules >> select Text that Contains.

• In the dialog box, enter “Notebook” in Format cells that contain the text >> choose a color >> click OK.
• Cells containing “Notebook” are highlighted.

6.2 Using a New Rule to Highlight Cells Having Values That meet the Formula

• Select the dataset (don’t select the headers) >> in the Home tab >> go to Styles >> Conditional Formatting >> select New Rule.

• In the New Formatting Rule dialog box >> select Use a formula to determine which cells to format >> go to Format values where this formula is true >> enter the formula >> click Format >> go to Fill  >> set a color >> click OK to Format Cells >> click OK in New Formatting Rule.

This is the output.

How to Use the Format Painter to Highlight Other Cells

• Select the cell  >> in the Home tab >> go Clipboard >> double-click the Format Painter.
• You will see  a plus icon with the brush.

• Select cells and click the icon to copy the format.
• Click  Format Painter again to stop copying the format.

How to Change the Format Color of a Highlighted Text

• Select the cells  you want to change.
• In the Home tab >> go to Font  >> Font Color >> set a new color.

How to Highlight an Active Row and Column in Excel

• Right-click the name of the sheet >>in the Context Menu Bar >> select View Code.

• Copy the code to the VB Editor.

Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
  If Target.Cells.Count > 1 Then Exit Sub
  Application.ScreenUpdating = False
  'This will clear all the Fill color.
  Cells.Interior.ColorIndex = 0
  With Target
    .EntireRow.Interior.Color = vbYellow
    .EntireColumn.Interior.Color = vbYellow
  End With
  Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the fastest way to highlight in Excel?

• Use SHIFT+Right/Left/Up/Down Arrow to select adjacent cells.
• Use CTRL key to select nonadjacent cells.
• Use CTRL+SHIFT+Right/Left/Up/Down Arrow to select all cells of the same row/column.
• In Fill Color >> set the color.

2. How do you highlight a column in Excel?

Click the column index number >> in Home tab >> Fill Color >> set the color.

3. How do I highlight part of text in an Excel cell?

Select that cell >> go to the Formula Bar >> select the text portion >>  Font Color >> choose a color.

How to Highlight in Excel: Knowledge Hub

• Highlight Lowest Value in Excel
• Highlight Highest Value in Excel
• Highlight Text in Excel
• Highlight a Column
• Compare Two Excel Sheets and Highlight Differences
• Highlight Text in Text Box
• Highlight a Cell

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