In Excel: paste Sub Macro1() into the VBA editor (Alt + F11 → Insert ▸ Module), press F5 to run, and save as .xlsm to keep the macro.
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VBA macro: Removeduplicates
Sub Macro1()
' removeduplicates — replace the body with your steps
Dim ws As Worksheet
Set ws = ActiveSheet
' ... your code here ...
End SubHow to run this macro
- Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor.
- Insert > Module.
- Paste the code above.
- Press
F5, or close the editor and run it from Developer > Macros. - Save the file as .xlsm so the macro is kept.
Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic for Applications editor.
In the Project pane, right-click the workbook name and choose Insert ▸ Module.
Paste the Sub Macro1() code into the blank Module window.
Press F5 or click Run ▸ Run Sub/UserForm to execute the macro.
Save the workbook as Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (.xlsm) to preserve the code.
What this does
Pasting Sub Macro1() into Excel's VBA editor gives you a one-click solution to removeduplicates. The macro runs inside the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) environment, which lets it loop over entire sheets, inspect every cell, and take action faster than any manual workflow. Open the editor with Alt + F11, insert a new Module, paste the code, and run it — the Removeduplicates task completes automatically. Save the file as .xlsm (macro-enabled workbook) so the Sub is preserved when you close and reopen Excel. Most people learn this as a sequence of clicks and forget it by next week; learning it as a pattern instead is what lets you apply it to the next, slightly different version of the problem without starting from scratch. That is the difference this page is trying to make. For “removeduplicates excel vba”, the reliable version is a short checking loop, not just the first command that appears to work. Run it on a deliberately small range first, watch how the affected duplicates change, and only then apply the same setup to the full sheet. When this is a ribbon command, the selection matters more than the button: confirm the range, apply the command, then spot-check the output before saving. That is what makes a data step that keeps your analysis trustworthy useful in real work: repeatable, auditable, and not dependent on memory or luck.
A worked example
Example: a colleague sends you a large dataset and asks you to removeduplicates before handing it back. Open the VBA editor with Alt + F11, create a new Module, paste the Sub Macro1() code, and click Run (or press F5). Excel calls the Sub, runs through the sheet, and finishes the Removeduplicates task automatically. The whole operation takes seconds regardless of how many rows are involved — and because the macro is deterministic, it will produce the same result every time you run it on the same input. The Removeduplicates macro pays off most when the underlying data changes frequently. Instead of redoing the removeduplicates steps each time a new export arrives, run Sub Macro1() and the workbook is clean in seconds. The time investment is front-loaded (writing and testing the macro once) and the returns compound with every subsequent run. If this is something you do often, add the command to the Quick Access Toolbar (right-click it on the ribbon and choose Add to Quick Access Toolbar) or learn its shortcut, so next time it is one click instead of a hunt through the menus.
In Google Sheets
Google Sheets does not run VBA. A macro written for Excel has to be rewritten in Google Apps Script (Extensions ▸ Apps Script), and an .xlsm file converted to Sheets keeps its cells but drops the code. The aim was to get you unstuck fast and leave you a little more capable than a copy-paste would. The answer is at the top and the detail above shows why it holds — so the next time a colleague asks, you can answer without reaching for search. The short version of “removeduplicates excel vba”: the answer is at the top of this page, and the sections above explain why each step matters, so a variation of the problem does not stump you. Try it once on a copy of a real file and the steps stick far better than re-reading them.
Common mistakes
- Missing Option Explicit at the top of the module — adding it forces VBA to flag typos in variable names immediately, saving time debugging.
- Not qualifying the range with the worksheet object — using Cells(1,1) without a ws. qualifier acts on whatever sheet is active; if the macro runs from a different sheet it may corrupt data. The pattern `Dim ws As Worksheet: Set ws = ActiveSheet` (or a specific sheet name) pins the action to the right place.
- Forgetting that macros cannot be undone with Ctrl+Z once they have modified the sheet. Test on a copy of the workbook before running on live data.
Frequently asked questions
How do I run the Removeduplicates macro?
Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor, insert a Module (Insert ▸ Module), paste Sub Macro1() into the code pane, and press F5. Alternatively close the editor and run it from Developer ▸ Macros ▸ select "Macro1" ▸ Run.
Why won't my macro run — macros are disabled?
Excel blocks macros by default for files downloaded from the internet. Click the yellow security bar and choose "Enable Content" — that trusts this one workbook and is all that is normally needed. Leave File ▸ Options ▸ Trust Center ▸ Trust Center Settings ▸ Macro Settings on "Disable VBA macros with notification" rather than switching to "Enable all macros", which Microsoft itself marks not recommended. If the bar is red instead of yellow, the file carries Mark of the Web: close Excel, right-click the file, open Properties and tick Unblock. Also ensure the file is saved as .xlsm, not .xlsx.
Can I undo what the Removeduplicates macro did?
No — VBA actions generally cannot be undone with Ctrl+Z because they bypass Excel's undo stack. Always test Sub Macro1() on a backup copy of the workbook before running it on live data, or add explicit validation logic inside the macro before the destructive step.