Remove a dropdown from a Google sheet

In Google Sheets, a dropdown allows you to select a value from a predefined list, streamlining data entry and reducing errors. Sometimes you need to remove a dropdown – and the process of removing it depends on whether the dropdown is used in the column of a table. Skip to the applicable steps:

• Remove a dropdown located outside of a table
• Remove a dropdown located inside of a table

If Remove rule is disabled when opening the dropdown settings, then likely the dropdown is part of the column definition inside a table. Go to Remove a dropdown located inside of a table.

Remove a dropdown located outside of a table

Use these instructions if your dropdown is located outside of a table. If your dropdown is defined as part of a column in a table, jump to the next section because the steps are different.

Remove a dropdown outside of a table using your mouse

• Right-click the cell containing the dropdown, and then
• Select Dropdown from the popup menu.
• The data validation panel will open.
• Click Remove rule on the bottom of the panel

Remove a dropdown outside of a table using your keyboard

• Move keyboard focus to the cell containing the dropdown, and then
• Press Shift-Enter to open the dropdown, and then
• Press the Up or Down arrow keys to navigate to the pencil (edit) icon, and then
• Press the Enter key. The data validation panel will open.
• Press the Tab key until Remove rule has focus and then press Enter.
  • Tip: the Remove rule button is one tab position after the Done button. Keep pressing Tab until Done has focus, then press Tab one last time.

Remove a dropdown located inside of a table

If your table contains a column with a dropdown, then you cannot directly remove the dropdown (as of Mary 2026). It is unclear whether this is a bug or by design. To fix, you must make a copy of the column and paste back with values only.

Remove a dropdown inside of a table using your mouse

You must copy the column values into a new column without the dropdown:

1. Insert an empty column next to the dropdown column:
   • Right-click anywhere in the dropdown column
   • Select + Insert 1 column left from the popup menu
   • A column will be inserted to the left of the dropdown column
2. Copy the dropdown column:
   • Right-click the header cell (top) of the dropdown column
   • Select Copy from the popup menu
3. Paste special values only into the empty column you added
   • Right-click the header (top) of the new empty column you added
   • Select Paste special > Values only
   • The contents of the dropdown column will be pasted as values only
4. Delete the dropdown column
   • Right-click anywhere in the dropdown column
   • Select Delete table column from the popup menu

Remove a dropdown inside of a table using your keyboard

You must copy the column values into a new column without the dropdown:

1. Insert an empty column next to the dropdown column
   • Move focus to anywhere in the dropdown column
   • Press Control + Alt + = on Windows, or ⌘ + Option + = on a Mac
   • Use the arrow keys to select Insert Column. A column is inserted to the left.
2. Copy the dropdown column
   • Use the arrow key to move anywhere back in the dropdown column
   • Press Control + Space to select the entire column
   • Press Control + C to copy the column
3. Paste values only into the new empty column
   • Use the arrow keys to move to the header cell of the new column
   • Press Control + Shift + V to paste values only
4. Remove the old dropdown column
   • Use the arrow keys to move back to the old dropdown column
   • Press Control + Alt + – (minus) to open the delete menu
   • Select the option to delete the column

References

• Create an in-cell dropdown list (support.google.com) – Create dropdown lists in a cell with Google Sheets.
• Keyboard shortcuts for Google Sheets (support.google.com) – Use keyboard shortcuts in Google Sheets to navigate, format, and use formulas.