How to compare two columns and look for differences in Excel

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Choose your Excel version, then follow the steps to determine the differences between two columns of data in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

Microsoft Excel for Office 365

  1. Open the Excel spreadsheet that contains the data you want to compare.
  2. Choose every cell that has the data to be compared in both columns.
  3. Find the Editing area on the Home tab of the Ribbon, then click Find & Select.
  4. Pick the Go To Special option from the drop-down menu.
  5. Select Row differences in the Go To Special pop-up box, then select Ok.
    The difference between the two columns is selected by Excel.
  6. Leave these differences selected, then choose the color you wish to use by clicking the paint bucket symbol in the font menu.
    You can also highlight the cells, right-click and choose the paint bucket from the menu that appears.

To access the Go To menu, use Ctrl+G and then click Special.
Another option is to hit F5, then choose Special from the pop-up menu.

Microsoft Excel 2007 & 2010

  1. Open the Excel spreadsheet that contains the data you want to compare.
  2. Choose every cell that has the data to be compared in both columns.
  3. Go to Find & Select on the Ribbon’s Home tab, then click Go To.
  4. Click Row differences in the Go To pop-up box, then click Ok.
    The difference between the two columns is selected by Excel.
  5. Leave these differences selected, then choose the color you wish to use by clicking the paint bucket symbol in the font menu.
    You can also highlight the cells, right-click and choose the paint bucket from the menu that appears.

Microsoft Excel 2003

  1. Open the Excel spreadsheet that contains the data you want to compare.
  2. Choose every cell that has the data to be compared in both columns.
  3. Click Edit and choose Go To from the file menu at the top of the program window.
  4. Select Row differences in the Go To Special pop-up box, then select Ok.
    The difference between the two columns is selected by Excel.
  5. Leave these differences selected, then choose the color you wish to use by clicking the paint bucket symbol in the font menu.
    You can also highlight the cells, right-click and choose the paint bucket from the menu that appears.