Basics

8 Must-Know Excel Tips of 2025(Merge Cells, Freeze Rows & More)

Aug 4, 2025

This blog breaks down 8 essential Excel tips that’ll help you save time, avoid errors, and make better business decisions. From removing duplicates to merging columns, freezing headers to creating dropdowns, we cover exactly how to do it and why it matters for your workflow.

1. How to Remove Duplicates in Excel

Why it matters:
Duplicate rows can mess up your analysis, especially in customer lists, transaction logs, or contact data.

How to do it:

Select the range of cells or entire table.
Go to the Data tab.
Click Remove Duplicates.
Choose the columns to check for duplicates.
Click OK.

Use Case:
Cleaning up exported lists from CRM tools, surveys, or email campaigns.

2. How to Freeze a Row in Excel

Why it matters:
When scrolling down large spreadsheets, the header row disappears. Freezing it keeps it visible.

How to do it:

Select the row below the one you want to freeze (usually Row 2).
Go to the View tab.
Click Freeze Panes → Freeze Top Row.

Use Case:
Helpful in cap tables, investor lists, or P&L statements where column headers should remain fixed.

3. How to Merge Cells in Excel

Why it matters:
Merging is useful for formatting — for example, creating section headers or grouped labels.

How to do it:

Select the cells you want to merge.
On the Home tab, click Merge & Center (or use dropdown for merge options).

Use Case:
Creating investor-ready reports with clear section dividers.

4. How to Create a Drop Down List in Excel

Why it matters:
Dropdowns enforce consistent data input. Perfect for lead qualification, project stages, or status updates.

How to do it:

Select the cell(s) where you want the dropdown.
Go to Data → Data Validation.
Under Allow, choose List.
Enter the values (comma-separated) or reference a range.

Use Case:
Adding dropdowns for deal stages in CRM spreadsheets or task status in project trackers.

5. How to Highlight Duplicates in Excel

Why it matters:
Sometimes you don’t want to remove duplicates — just spot them. This helps in data audits or quality checks.

How to do it:

Select the range.
Go to Home → Conditional Formatting → Highlight Cell Rules → Duplicate Values.
Choose formatting style.

Use Case:
Checking if the same lead was contacted twice or spotting duplicate invoices.

6. How to Lock Cells in Excel

Why it matters:
Locking cells ensures formulas or templates aren't accidentally changed — especially when sharing files.

How to do it:

Select the entire sheet → Right-click → Format Cells → Protection → Uncheck Locked.
Then, select only the cells you want to lock → Check Locked.
Go to Review → Protect Sheet → Set a password.

Use Case:
Locking calculated fields while letting team members enter raw data.

7. How to Merge Two Columns in Excel

Why it matters:
You often get first names and last names in separate columns. Merging them saves formatting time.

How to do it:

Use formula:
=A2 & " " & B2

This takes the content of cell A2, adds a space (" "), and then joins it with B2.
or use
=CONCATENATE(A2, " ", B2)

Drag down to apply across the sheet.

Use Case:
Combining location fields, like City + Country → “San Francisco, USA”.

Creating SKUs by combining product category and ID → “TEE-001”, “MUG-102”.

8. How to Pin a Row in Excel

(Also known as freezing — same functionality as #2, but worth reiterating)

How to do it:

Use Freeze Panes to pin the header row.

Use Case:
Essential for working with large investor databases or financial statements.

Excel Tip Summary Table

Excel Tip	What It Helps With	Where It’s Used
Remove Duplicates	Clean data, prevent repetition	CRM exports, email lists
Freeze a Row	Keep headers visible during scroll	Cap tables, balance sheets
Merge Cells	Section headers, better formatting	Investor reports, dashboards
Drop Down List	Data validation, avoid typos	Project status, lead stage tracking
Highlight Duplicates	Spot repeated entries without removing	Invoice checks, duplicate leads
Lock Cells	Prevent accidental edits	Shared templates, forecast models
Merge Two Columns	Combine separate data points into one cell	Full names, combined geographies
Pin a Row	Reiterates freezing top row for visibility	All large spreadsheets