Excel This Value Doesn’t Match The Data Validation Error 2025 Ultimate Fix!

The error message “This value doesn’t match the data validation restrictions defined for this cell” often pops up when input doesn’t meet the set rules. This particular error indicates that the value assigned by you doesn’t match the criteria defined using data validation for that particular cell. In this exclusive post, you will learn why this error occurs and how to troubleshoot it and resume your work.

Here is the screenshot of the error:

Why Data Validation Is Not Working In Excel?

If data validation is not working in Excel, then will frequently show errors like this value doesn’t match the data validation error.

Behind this Excel data validation error, the following reasons are highly responsible. I have also mentioned a quick solution along with the reasons, so try them too.

1: Doesn’t Work For The Copied Data

Data validation is mainly used to restrict users from entering invalid data directly into the cell but won’t prevent them to copy it.

Well, there is no possible way to disable the shortcut of copy/paste, but you can prevent copying of data by simply drag-drop the cells.

• For this, you need to go to the File tab and then hit the Options.
• In the opened window of Excel options, tap to the Advanced
• Now from the Editing section, uncheck the option “Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop“.

2: Won’t Work In The Cell Edit Mode

It is seen that the data validation command won’t work when the cell is already in edit mode means someone is entering or modifying its data.

After completing the cell’s editing, just press the Enter or Esc button to quit edit mode. After that, start the data validation process.

3# Protected Or Shared Workbook

Data validation rules keep working in the shared and protected workbooks. It’s not that easy to set new rules or modify data validation settings.

For this, you need to unshare or unprotect Excel workbook first.

4# Incorrect Data Validation Formulas

If you are performing formula-based data validation in your Excel worksheet, then check these 3 criteria.

• The data validation formula won’t give any error.
• The formula doesn’t contain any mention about any empty cells.
• Suitable cell references must be used.

5# Manual Recalculation Is Turned On

Keep the Manual Calculation mode enabled because an uncalculated formula stops data from getting validated correctly.

For changing the Excel calculation option from automatic to manual

• Go to the formula tab and then from the Calculation
• Tap to the Calculation Options button and then hit the Manual option.

How To Fix Excel This Value Doesn’t Match The Data Validation Error?

Here follow the possible workarounds to fix This value doesn’t match the data validation restrictions defined for this cell error in Excel.

1: Remove The Data Validation

• Choose the cell in which you are getting a data validation error.
• Now go to the Data tab and click on the “data validation” icon from “data tools” group.
• In the opened data validation window, switch to the Settings tab.
• Hit the Validation criteria section.
• In order to disable the data validations, choose the Any value option from the drop-down present in Allow section. After that, hit the ok button.

2: Input Message

The input message appears when the user selects the cell and tells the user what to enter.

• Choose the cell in which you are getting data validation error.
• Now go to the Data tab and click on the “data validation” icon from the “data tools” group.
• In the opened data validation window switch to the Input Message tab.
• make a check across the ‘Show input message when the cell is selected’ option.
• Enter a title and also an input message.

3: Data Validation Error Messages

At the time of addition of a drop-down list on the worksheet, or while performing any other data validation work then you can select the type of error like Stop, Warning, or Information, which you want to show.

By default the error type is selected STOP, which prevents you from entering any invalid data. Pop-up error message comes with buttons of Retry, Cancel & Help.

 Here is the statement of the pop-up error message.

“This value doesn’t match the data validation restrictions defined for this cell.”

Respond to the Error Message

If you also encounter such error messages, you can any of the buttons of Retry, Cancel & Help. Let’s take an idea of what these buttons actually do.

Help –

This will take you to the data validation page on the website of Microsoft. In the opened window, you will get instructions regarding setting up the data validation cells. So you will not get any specific details on why the entered is invalid.

Cancel –

Clean up the cell to enter a new value, or you can select from the drop-down list.

Retry –

Your typed value in the cell gets highlighted so that you can type a new value. In order to use the drop-down arrow, you need to clear the cell.

Also Read: Excel “Compile Error: Can’t Find Project or Library” Error

4: Customized Error Messages

Besides using the default settings for data validation errors. You can go to the error alert tab in the data validation dialog box and properly customize it.

Select one of the styles: Stop, Warning, or Information. After that enter a title and an error message which gives proper detail to the user on what went wrong.

In the above-shown example, we have selected warning styles and entered a customized message. When we enter an item which is not previously on the list? This had thrown a customized message pop-up within the warning icon along with the buttons.

5: Turn Off Error Messages

If you want to completely turn off the data validation error, then for that case.

• Choose the cell in which you are gettinga  data validation error.
• Now go to the Data tab and click on the “data validation” icon from “data tools” group.
• In the opened data validation window, switch to Error Alert tab, remove the checkmark from “Show error alert after invalid data is entered”

6. Data Validation Error Messages in Tables

If in case you are using data validation in a named Excel table, then invalid data might be flagged by Excel’s Error Checking Rules. Turning off an error alert or setting the style to warning or information won’t resolve the issue.

In the below-shown screenshot, you will see some warnings on cell C2, because it contains two items in the same cell.

Even copying cell C2 in a different location of a worksheet or outside the table won’t remove the error message. This will affect your excel table a lot.

7. Turn Off Table Data Setting

If you are sure there is no issue with the cell’s data, then you can just ignore the error warnings. If it contains a few messages, then set the error warning in each cell manually to remove the error.

• To close all the data validation warnings in the table, just follow down the steps mentioned below. In order to change the excel options.
• Hit the arrow present on the error alert and click the error checking option.
• Now, in the options window, go to the formula category and scroll down to the Error Checking Rules section.
• Uncheck the checkmark for “Data entered in a table is invalid”.
• Tap to the OK option.

8. A Method To Solve Problems of Error Alert

In the above part, we have figured out the different styles of error alert, and you know that in some circumstances, the invalid value will remain in the cells.  Therefore, to handle this issue, you can use the additional features to check for errors.

1. Click the tab “data” in the ribbon.
2. And then click the small arrow next to the button “Data Validation”.
3.  In the drop-down menu, click the option “Circle Invalid Data”.

4. After that you will see that a window will appear on your screen. If you want to get a more accurate result then click “yes” in the window.

5. This will highlight all the invalid content within the red oval circle.

But if you copy the format into B2, the cell is actually an ordinary cell. Therefore, even if the content is invalid, it will not be highlighted with a red oval. Hence, you may pay more attention when pasting values from other cells.

These are the manual solutions to fix Excel this value doesn’t match the data validation error. But if after following the solution you still getting the error message then, in this case, make use of the automatic solution to fix the error message.

9. Fix Corrupt Excel File

Chances are also that your Excel file has somehow been corrupted, and thus, the applied data validation rule is not working. To deal with any Excel corruption or file damage-like situation, the best-recommended option is to go with is MS Excel Repair Tool.

This recovery tool works superbly for restoring corrupt Excel files and also in easily retrieving of data from Excel worksheets like charts, cell comments, worksheet other data, and properties. This is a professionally designed program that can easily repair .xls and .xlsx files.

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* Free version of the product only previews recoverable data.

Steps to Utilize MS Excel Repair Tool:

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Do I Fix Data Validation Restrictions in Excel?

To fix data validation restrictions in Excel:

• Navigate to the Format menu, then click on the Data Validation.
• Under a Data Validation dialog box, you have to click on the condition you want to change.
• Then, click on the Modify option, and then make the changes you want.

Why Is Data Validation Not Working in Excel?

It might be possible that your workbook is either password protected or corrupted that’s why data validation is not working in Excel.

How Do I Remove Restrictions from Excel?

To remove restrictions from Excel, go to the Review tab, in Protection, choose Permissions >> No Restrictions. Under the dialog box, choose Remove Restrictions.

What Is the Shortcut Key for Data Validation in MS Excel?

The shortcut Alt+Down arrow key is used for data validation in MS Excel.

How to Reset Data Validation in Excel?

Go to the Data tab, click on the Data Validation. After this, choose Clear All. Doing this, you can easily reset data validation in Excel.

How to Edit Data Validation in Excel?

To edit data validation in Excel, select a cell with the validation, click on the Data tab >> ‘Data Validation.’ Under a Data Validation dialog box, modify the settings, like the allowed values, input messages, and error alerts

Summing Up

The “This value doesn’t match the data validation” error in Excel is easy to resolve with a few checks mentioned above. Stick to drop-down selections, ensure clean data, and double-check validation rules. With consistent practices, you can maintain data integrity and avoid future input errors.

Thanks for reading the article. Hope after following the solution given in the article, you are able to fix the error.