Make a Search Bar in Excel to Find Anything!

Build a search box in Excel to find anything in your dataset.

In this video, we'll make a dynamic search bar so you can search for any values in your dataset. We will start creating a search box with the developer button. Then, we'll use the filter formula to look for values in a dataset. Following this, to get a partial match, we'll combine the isnumber and search functions to the filter function. Then we'll add all of the other columns we want to search by. Finally, we'll design the search bar with icons, shapes, and conditional formatting so the matching values stand out.

LEARN:

SOCIALS:

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Chapters:
0:00​ -​ Search Bar with Exact Match Only
2:55​ - Adding Both Partial & Exact Match
5:36​ - Adding all columns to the Search Bar
6:58​ - Search Bar Design
9:36​ - Bonus Trick!

Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission on some of the links provided at no extra cost to you.

[zzota]

Really neat trick. You could also wrap the whole FILTER function in an IF: IF(H2="", "" FILTER....). Then you'd get a blank list if you haven't entered a search parameter.

[benhermann]

Thanks heaps for this solution, it is brilliant! I'd like to offer a solution to the conditional formatting in case the search box is empty: Add another condition that checks if the linked cell is empty. Place it above the one you have introduced. If that condition is TRUE then remove formatting and stop processing more rules.
And in general: Your teaching is wonderful! Clear voice and speaking, clear demonstration, not wasting time by fast forwarding during non-essential formatting of boxes etc. Very well done, thank you!

[Aamir_Updates]

I am from Pakistan and Gas Turbine Engineer, I learnt a lot after watching your videos and now I can make spreadsheet and other calculators for complex calculations. Thanks.

[AMIRKHAN-bjny]

You taught the search filter formula in your video in the most simple way ever. 🎉🎉🎉
I really Appreciate your way of teaching.
Your video helped me a lot in my projects.
Thank you so much.

[guardianofthemoon]

You literally taught me more in 5 minutes than any other video on here thank you!!!! <3

[judithbredy]

This is so helpful and I love how Kenji explains everything.

[salvatorva]

In the search formula, it is more convenient and shorter to concatenate the table fields instead of repeating the search formula: =FILTER(Table1, ISNUMBER(SEARCH($H$2, Table1[First]&Table1[Last]&Table1[Country]&Table1[Age])), "No Match")

[NishantPotdar]

Wow!! Nicely explained!! Happy with what I was looking for!! Thank you so much!

[tomletcher]

Thanks Kenji!! made my life a whole lot easier!! Great content, seamlessly explained ... Legend :)

[shabeerahmed]

Hello Kenji, how are you? Your all videos are very helpful for me. Regarding this " Filter" function, it only support in " Excel 365" & " Excel 2021" . What is the alternative function in old versions(like excel 2013, 2016, 2019)?

[andromeda]

Amazing .. You are the ONE "EXCEL MASTER" 》》 THANKS 👏🏼👌🏼👍🏼

[thedebis]

You just made my job 10x easier,  thanks!! Subscribed

[Technical_Things]

Last few days, I was trying to make s search box with VBA coding, but it is very difficult, but your trick just is outstanding, thanku so much sir ❤

[abdulsalam]

Sir, video is good. How this can be done with "OLDER VERSIONS OF EXCEL"

[khalidmounir]

thanks, we d love if u make it with previous versions that doesn't support the formula FILTER

[luisllontopbarahona]

Kenji... I am learning a lot with you with those cool Excel features... Thank you for sharing the knowledge...

[khato]

These are very valuable skills, please continue to share so everyone can learn from you

[dalimiso]

Such a powerful tool/method and clearly explained. Can you use it to pool data from more than one Table or Sheets?

[bobcaruthers]

Great videos, but when I attempt the second formula, it throws up errors. despite my copying the exact formula you use.

[loveloveever]

🎉 thank you for sharing this kind of tutorial. It really helps me to learn Excel formulas. You explain it well.