How to Remove Duplicates in Excel Fast

The fastest way to permanently remove duplicates in Excel is by using the built-in “Remove Duplicates” tool or the lightning-fast keyboard shortcut Alt + A + M.

To avoid permanently losing information, it is always a smart practice to create a quick backup copy of your worksheet before using destructive cleaning methods. Method 1: The Fast Ribbon Tool (Destructive)

This method permanently deletes duplicate entries from your spreadsheet.

Select anywhere inside your dataset or highlight the specific range of cells. Click on the Data tab located on the Excel ribbon.

Click the Remove Duplicates button inside the Data Tools group. Choose your columns in the popup box:

Keep Select All checked if you only want to delete exact matching rows.

Uncheck columns if you want to look for duplicates based on limited criteria (e.g., matching “ID” only).

Click OK. Excel will tell you exactly how many items were removed. Method 2: The Fast Keyboard Shortcut (Destructive)

If you prefer avoiding mouse clicks entirely, you can run the exact same cleanup tool instantly: Click any single cell inside your dataset. Press Alt + A + M sequentially on your keyboard. Hit Enter to accept the columns and confirm the deletion.

Watch this step-by-step visual guide to see how the built-in tool deletes repeated rows instantly: How to Remove Duplicates in Excel Kevin Stratvert YouTube · Sep 25, 2024 Method 3: The =UNIQUE Formula (Non-Destructive)