Learn how to find blank cells in Microsoft Excel in tried and tested ways.

You often find blank cells in the middle of a large dataset that might distort the end result. Alternatively, blank cells can distort any charts or graphs you create in Excel. All of these lead to unreliable analysis and reporting errors. Identifying blank cells makes data cleaning easier. It is useful for large datasets. You can quickly detect gaps and fill in missing information. Follow along with me as I show you the easy methods that anyone can master on the first day.

Using the Go To Special Feature

The best way to find all the empty cells in an Excel worksheet is by using the Go To Special dialog box.

Navigate to the source worksheet and press Ctrl + G to launch the Go To dialog box.

Click on the Special button in the bottom left corner.

You’ll see the Go To Special tool.

Click on the Blanks option below the Select column and click OK.

Go To Special will highlight all the blank cells in the selected grid area.

If you wish to highlight all the blank cells in a specific cell background color, click on the Fill Color common in the Font block of the Home tab.

Now select the final cell background color.

Using Filter Option

Another easy way to find all the blank cells in a dataset or table is by applying a filter to the data and using the Blanks filter to segregate all the empty cells.

To practice this method, go to the source worksheet, click on the column header of the dataset, and press Ctrl + Shift + L to activate the Sort & Filter tool.

Now, select a specific column header in the source table.

Click on the Sort & Filter drop-down menu.

Uncheck the Select All option and checkmark the Blanks option.

Click OK to apply the filter.

You should see all the blank cells in the selected column filtered out so you can mark those or enter appropriate values into these cells.

Using Conditional Formatting

You can also use the Conditional Formatting tool to programmatically select all blank cells based on the formatting of the input data source. Since the formatting is dynamic, any changes in the dataset automatically update the highlights, ensuring real-time accuracy.

Select the range of cells where you want to identify blank cells. This could be a column, row, or the entire dataset where you expect blank entries.

Go to the Home tab, click on Conditional Formatting, and select New Rule from the dropdown menu.

In the New Formatting Rule window, choose the Format only cells that contain rule, and then select Blanks from the Format only cells with drop-down menu.

You must click the default Cell Value drop-down menu and choose Blanks from the list that follows.

Click the Format button and choose a fill color or any other formatting style to highlight blank cells.

Click OK twice to apply the rule.

The blank cells within the selected range will now be highlighted.

However, it can slow down the performance of large datasets. It also doesn’t provide a direct way to count or list blank cells. You’ll need to set up a separate system to take care of the counting part. Additionally, if you apply multiple Conditional Formatting rules, managing those can become complex and may lead to unintended formatting conflicts.

Using Find & Replace

Another simple way to find blank cells in Excel is by using the Find & Replace tool. This tool is suitable if you need to investigate the worksheet cell by cell for blank cells to eliminate problems in formulas.

Select the cell range where you expect blank cells could exist and press the Ctrl + F keys to launch the Find & Replace dialog box.

Now, simply click on the Find All button to list all the blank cells in the Find & Replace dialog box.

You can click on the Find Next button to cycle through all the blank cells one by one.

Using VBA to Find Blank Cells

If finding blank cells in Excel is a common or regular task in your Excel data analysis journey, you should use an automated process to reduce manual work. What best could be better than Excel VBA macros?

Excel VBA allows you to create elaborate macros that’ll walk through the user with visual queues. Also, you can create macros without writing a single line of code if you follow the steps that I have explained here.

There are two phases in using this method. First, you need to go through this simple Microsoft Excel tutorial to learn the process of setting up a macro:

📒 Read More: How To Use The VBA Code You Find Online

If you’re ready to create a macro on your own, use the following VBA script:

Sub HighlightBlankCells()
    Dim rng As Range
    Dim cell As Range
    Dim blankCount As Long
    
    ' Prompt user to select a range
    On Error Resume Next
    Set rng = Application.InputBox("Select a range", "Range Selection", Type:=8)
    On Error GoTo 0
    
    ' Exit if no range is selected
    If rng Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
    
    ' Initialize blank cell counter
    blankCount = 0
    
    ' Loop through each cell in the selected range
    For Each cell In rng
        If IsEmpty(cell.Value) Then
            ' Highlight the blank cell with the specified color
            cell.Interior.Color = RGB(250, 188, 238) ' Hex #FABCEE
            blankCount = blankCount + 1
        End If
    Next cell
    
    ' Display the number of blank cells found
    MsgBox blankCount & " blank cells were identified and highlighted.", vbInformation, "Blank Cells Count"
End Sub

When the macro is ready, press Alt + F8 to launch the Macro dialog box.

Select the HighlightBlankCells macro and hit Run to execute that.

You’ll see an input box that will ask you to select a cell range for analysis. Select a cell range from the active worksheet using the mouse.

The macro will scan the whole cell range, find, and highlight the blank cells using the Hex #FABCEE color code.

It’ll also show a message box showing the total count of blank cells in the selected cell range.

Conclusions

Now you know the tried and tested methods to find blank cells in Microsoft Excel. You can practice the method that suits your working style and expertise.

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