Duplicate Remover
Free Duplicate Remover: select the range, then Data ▸ Remove Duplicates and tick the columns that define a duplicate. To keep the original, use...
2 duplicates removed · 3 kept
How it works
In Excel or Google Sheets, select the range, then Data ▸ Remove Duplicates and tick the columns that define a duplicate. To keep the original, use =UNIQUE(range) instead.
Select the data range, including headers.
On the Data tab, click Remove Duplicates.
Tick only the columns that should define a duplicate, then confirm.
To keep the original intact, use =UNIQUE(range) in a spare area instead.
What this does
Remove Duplicates strips repeated rows from a selection, keeping the first occurrence and deleting the rest in place. It judges duplicates only on the columns you tick, so two rows can differ elsewhere and still be removed. When you want a deduplicated copy without touching the source, the UNIQUE function spills a clean list you can refer back to.
A worked example
A customer list in A1:C500 has repeats. Select it, choose Data ▸ Remove Duplicates, and tick only the Email column so rows are treated as duplicates when emails match. Excel reports how many it removed. Non-destructive alternative: in a blank cell type =UNIQUE(A2:C500) and a deduplicated copy appears, updating automatically as the source changes. Duplicate rows quietly inflate counts, totals and mailing lists. Removing them — or surfacing them with UNIQUE and COUNTIF — is a basic data-hygiene step before any analysis you want to trust.
Common mistakes
- Selecting only one column, so Remove Duplicates shrinks that column out of step with its row.
- Forgetting it edits in place — make a copy first if you might need the duplicates back.
- Ticking every column when only one (like an ID) actually defines a duplicate.
- Overlooking stray spaces or case differences that stop true duplicates from matching; clean with
TRIMfirst.
FAQ
Remove Duplicates or UNIQUE?
Remove Duplicates edits the data in place and is a one-off action. UNIQUE is a live formula that returns a deduplicated copy and updates automatically.
How do I find duplicates without deleting them?
Use Conditional Formatting ▸ Highlight Cells ▸ Duplicate Values to colour them, or =COUNTIF(range, cell)>1 to flag them.
Why are visible duplicates not removed?
They differ by an invisible space or letter case. Run TRIM and make case consistent so the values truly match.
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