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Google Sheetsspreadsheet~5 mins

UNIQUE function in Google Sheets - Step-by-Step Guide

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Introduction
The UNIQUE function helps you find all the different values in a list or column. It removes any repeated items so you see each value only once. This is useful when you want to quickly see all unique entries without sorting or filtering manually.
When you have a list of names and want to see each name only once.
When you track sales and want to list all different products sold.
When you collect survey answers and want to find all unique responses.
When you want to create a dropdown menu with only unique options.
When you want to count how many different items appear in a column.
Steps
Step 1: Click
- a blank cell where you want the unique list to start
The cell is selected and ready for input
Step 2: Type
- the selected cell
The formula is entered in the cell
💡 Start typing =UNIQUE( to see the function suggestion
Step 3: Select
- the range of cells containing your list (for example, A2:A20)
The range appears inside the parentheses of the formula
Step 4: Type
- the formula bar
The formula looks like =UNIQUE(A2:A20)
Step 5: Press
- Enter key
The cell and cells below fill with the unique values from the selected range
Before vs After
Before
Column A has names: Anna, Bob, Anna, Carla, Bob, Dave
After
The UNIQUE formula outputs: Anna, Bob, Carla, Dave in separate cells
Settings Reference
Range
📍 Inside the UNIQUE function parentheses
Defines which cells to check for unique values
Default: No default, you must specify the range
By column (optional)
📍 Second argument in UNIQUE function, e.g., UNIQUE(range, TRUE)
Choose whether to find unique rows or unique columns
Default: FALSE
Common Mistakes
Not selecting the correct range inside UNIQUE
The formula will miss some values or include empty cells
Carefully select only the cells with your data, avoiding empty rows
Typing UNIQUE without the equal sign (=)
The formula will not work and will show as plain text
Always start formulas with =, for example =UNIQUE(A2:A20)
Expecting UNIQUE to sort the results
UNIQUE only removes duplicates but keeps the original order
Use SORT(UNIQUE(range)) if you want the unique values sorted
Summary
UNIQUE extracts only different values from a list or range.
It helps remove duplicates quickly without manual filtering.
Remember to specify the correct range and start the formula with =.