Dealing with Duplicate Rows in Google Sheets

First Method:

Google Sheets is a powerful tool for organizing and analyzing data, but duplicate rows can compromise the quality and accuracy of your performance metrics, sales dashboards, app KPIs, decision-making, and other mission-critical efforts. Fortunately, there are several ways to remove or highlight duplicate rows in Google Sheets. Here is a comprehensive guide that covers the most popular methods:

1. Remove duplicates in Google Sheets in five steps:

• Select the range of cells that you want to clear from duplicates.
• Go to the Data menu => Data cleanup => Remove duplicates.
• Check whether the selected data range has a header row.
• Select the columns to analyze for duplicates.
• Click Remove duplicates. 

2. Highlight duplicates in Google Sheets:

• Select the column where you want to perform the search for duplicates.
• Go to the Format menu => Conditional formatting => Add new rule.
• Choose “Custom formula is” and enter the formula “=countif(A:A,A1)>1” (where A is the column you want to check for duplicates).
• Choose the formatting style you want to apply to the duplicates.
• Click Done.

3. Find duplicate or unique rows in one Google sheet:

• Select the range of cells that you want to check for duplicates.
• Go to the Data menu => Remove duplicates.
• Tick off all columns at once by using the top checkbox in the header row if you want to find complete row duplicates.
• Click Remove duplicates.

4. Combine duplicate rows in Google Sheets:

• Install the Combine Duplicate Rows add-on.
• Go to Extensions => Remove Duplicates => Combine duplicate rows to run the add-on.
• Select the range of cells that you want to combine.
• Choose the columns that contain unique information in adjacent columns.
• Click Combine.

5. Highlight duplicates in Google Sheets using a formula:

• Select the column where you want to perform the search for duplicates.
• Enter the formula “=unique(A:A)” (where A is the column you want to check for duplicates).
• Add the formula directly below your dataset to provide a full list of all your unique rows.
• Apply conditional formatting to highlight the duplicates.

6. Remove duplicates in Google Sheets using a formula:

• Select the range of cells that you want to clear from duplicates.
• Go to the Data menu => Create a filter.
• Click the filter button in the header row of the column you want to check for duplicates.
• Choose “Filter by condition” => “Custom formula is” and enter the formula “=countif(A:A,A1)=1” (where A is the column you want to check for duplicates).
• Click OK.
• Select the filtered rows and delete them. 

By following these methods, you can easily remove or highlight duplicate rows in Google Sheets and improve the quality and accuracy of your data.

Secon Method:

Duplicate rows in Google Sheets can clutter your data and hinder accurate analysis. This guide focuses on identifying and handling duplicate rows in Google Sheets for better data management and maintaining clean, organized data sets.

1. Using Conditional Formatting: One of the simplest ways to identify duplicate rows is by applying conditional formatting rules. By comparing values in selected columns, you can visually highlight duplicate rows based on specific criteria. This method allows you to quickly spot duplicates without altering the data.
2. Utilizing Built-in Functions: Google Sheets provides useful built-in functions such as COUNTIF, COUNTIFS, and UNIQUE that can help you identify duplicate rows. These functions enable you to count occurrences of specific values or combinations of values across multiple columns. By comparing the counts with the number of unique rows, you can pinpoint duplicates effectively.
3. Using Add-ons: The G Suite Marketplace offers various Google Sheets add-ons specifically designed for finding and managing duplicate rows. These add-ons provide advanced features like fuzzy matching, custom criteria, and batch operations, streamlining the process of locating and handling duplicates.
4. Removing Duplicate Rows: Once you have identified duplicate rows, you need to decide on the appropriate action. Depending on your data requirements, you can either remove duplicates entirely or keep one instance of each duplicate row. Utilize built-in functions or add-ons to remove duplicate rows efficiently while preserving the integrity of the remaining data.
5. Custom Formulas: For more complex and tailored duplicate detection, you can create custom formulas using a combination of functions and logical operators. This method allows you to define your own rules for identifying duplicates based on specific criteria, offering flexibility in the duplicate identification process.
6. Handling Large Data Sets: When working with large data sets, advanced techniques such as querying or scripting can significantly improve efficiency. These methods provide faster processing and better performance when dealing with extensive data, enabling you to find duplicate rows more efficiently.
7. Regular Data Maintenance: To prevent duplicate entries and maintain clean data, it’s essential to implement regular data maintenance practices. Review and update your data periodically, especially if you’re working with dynamic data sources or data that frequently changes. By establishing regular data maintenance routines, you can ensure your Google Sheets remain organized and reliable for effective analysis and decision-making.

Finding and managing duplicate rows in Google Sheets is crucial for maintaining clean and accurate data sets. By utilizing conditional formatting, built-in functions, add-ons, custom formulas, and advanced techniques for large data sets, you can efficiently identify and handle duplicates. Remove or keep duplicate rows based on your data requirements and establish regular data maintenance practices to prevent duplicate entries. With clean and reliable data, you can perform effective analysis and make informed decisions.