Replace a Cell Colour in Excel With Find and Replace

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Find and Replace can swap formatting, not just text. Use it to change every yellow cell to green across a sheet, or a whole workbook, in one click.

WhereCtrl + H → Options → Format
ScopeSheet or whole workbook
Works onFill, font colour, borders, number formats

Steps

  1. Press Ctrl + H and click Options.
  2. Click Format next to Find what → Fill tab → pick the colour to replace. Or use Choose Format From Cell and click a yellow cell.
  3. Click Format next to Replace with → Fill → pick the new colour.
  4. Leave both text boxes empty and click Replace All.
Data with yellow highlighted cells
Format button in Find and Replace
Find Format dialog with yellow fill selected
Find and Replace with both formats set
Yellow cells replaced with green
Choose Format From Cell option

Tips

  • Set Within to Workbook to change every sheet at once.
  • After the change, click Format → Clear Find Format so the next search isn’t limited to that colour.
  • This doesn’t change colours applied by conditional formatting; edit the rule instead (Home → Conditional Formatting → Manage Rules).
  • Use Find All first to see how many cells match.

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