Data Validation List Source Keeps Changing

Question

Hi there,

I want to ask the very same question already asked in this thread: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/data-validation-list-source-keeps-changing/9c6def24-fbdb-4b9e-99ad-0d625aaa1bf7

However, as the linked resource is closed for comment, I am creating a new thread.

I have the same issue and can provide a gif showing the issue:

1. For a range of cells I want to select values from a dropdown
2. This had already been configured before, but is not working. You can see in the gif, that a dropdown is shown, but has only two values (the same)
3. I change the data validation source again to a range of cells from a different sheet within the same workbook
4. The new setup can be used exactly once (I select a random value from the dropdown)
5. For every other cell the setting is back to the faulty ones

What am I doing wrong?

Any comments appreciated!

Cheers

PS: Interestingly the behavior is now the one depicted above / in the gif. In trial-and-error before it was the case, that up until working step 4 (see above) all was the same, BUT in step 5 the dropdown menu configuration was completely gone and had to be redone ... so either way, it does not really work.

![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/3df319bf-42c5-483b-88c3-97a30b3201d5?platform=QnA

Answer 1

Hi Robert,

Thanks for your information and the file, I’ve tested on my side using the same version as yours, everything worked well, and it can also work properly in Excel online on your side, so it is not a file problem.

Since version 1911 Build 12228.20364 is the latest version of Monthly Channel, there is no updates available, please try the following suggestions and see if it can work:

1.       Open Excel in Safe Mode, sometimes some plugins can cause problems with Excel, start with safe mode will disable the plugins, and you can check if the file can work properly.

2.       Copy the content to a newly created file or save it as a copy and check if the problem persist in the new file.

3.       If the above methods can’t solve your problem, try to repair your Office applications

Thanks for trusting me and your patience for this, if there is and progress please feel free to come back and I’ll offer further assistance.

Best Regards,

Arck

Answer 2

Hi Robert,

Has your problem been solved? If the issue persists please feel free to come back and give me feedback for further help.

Best Regards,

Arck

Answer 3

Dear Arck,

Thanks for the quick feedback, very much appreciated.

I answered your PM and shared the file in question.

Here is my version of Excel installed:

I opened the file in Excel Online and there it seems to be working fine (thanks for the hint!) - so maybe an issue with the desktop version of Excel in that build?

Best,

Robert

Answer 4

Hi RoLen,

Thanks for posting in the community and your detailed information, I’ve tested on my side and it worked well, please try to upload your file to OneDrive and open it via Office online to check if the problem persists.

Besides, if the problem only occurs in this one specific file, given the complexity of the file, if you don’t mind, you can share the file with me via Private Message, and I’ll do more test.

And if the problem occurs in all files, including the newly created files, but the files can work properly when opened via Office online, please provide your Excel version number as the screenshot below (please mask your email address), and I will test if this is a problem in a certain version.

 

Looking forward to your feedback, this information can help us determine whether this is a file issue or a client issue.

Best Regards,

Arck