Excel: How to AutoFill Using a Custom List

The following step-by-step example shows how to autofill values in Excel using a custom list.

Step 1: Create Custom List

First, let’s enter the values for the custom list that we’d like to use for autofilling.

For this example, we’ll create a list of basketball team names:

Step 2: Edit Custom Lists

Next, we need to add this list of basketball team names as a new custom list in Excel.

To do so, highlight the team names in the range A2:A11, then click the File tab along the top ribbon, then click Options in the bottom left corner.

In the new window that appears, click Advanced from the side bar, then scroll all the way down until you see a button called Edit Custom Lists:

In the new window that appears, make sure NEW LIST is highlighted and make sure the range A2:A11 is shown in the box titled Import list from cells.

Then click Import:

The list of basketball team names will now appear in the list of Custom lists.

Click OK to close this window.

Step 3: AutoFill from List

Now that we added this list of basketball team names as a custom list, we can autofill team names by simply typing the first name of the team in this list.

For example, we can type the team name “Mavs” in any cell in Excel:

To autofill the rest of the values from our list, hover over the bottom right-hand corner of cell D2 until a tiny cross “+” appears. Then we can click and drag down to the cells below it: