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How to show/display more than 8 lines in data validation list in Excel?

Author Siluvia Last modified

By default, a data validation drop-down list only shows 8 items in the list when clicking the drop-down arrow. So you need to drag the scroll bar down for viewing more values in the list. Actually, you can show more than 8 lines in a drop-down list with the help of Combo box. Please do as follows.

Show more than 8 lines in data validation list with Combo box

Show more than 8 lines in data validation list with Combo box

The Combo box can help you showing more than 8 lines in drop-down list in Excel.

1. Enable the Developer tab, then click Insert > Combo Box. See screenshot:

click Insert > Combo Box from Developer tab

You can click here to know how to enable the Developer tab in Excel.

2. Draw a Combo Box in your worksheet and right click on it. Then select Format Control from the right-clicking menu.

select Format Control from the right-clicking menu

3. In the Format Object dialog box, click the Control tab, and do the following operations:

3.1 Select the range with values you need to display in the drop-down list in the Input range box;
3.2 In the Cell link box, specify a linked cell for the Combo Box;
3.3 Then enter the certain drop down lines you want to display in the drop-down list in the Drop down lines box. For example, I want to display 11 lines in the drop down list, then I enter number 11;
3.4 Click the OK button.

set options in the Format Object dialog box

You can see more than 8 lines (number of drop down lines you specified) are displayed in the drop-down list as below screenshot shown.

more than 8 lines are displayed in the drop-down list

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