Try the example, then check the result.
Download the fictional material and follow the steps below. The video uses English illustrative diagrams; it does not present a live app recording. Product controls may vary by version.
Check the answer before applying the method to your own data. How we review guides ↗
Watch the complete lesson.
The video uses English illustrative diagrams; it does not present a live app recording. English captions. Product menus may differ in your account.
Quick answer. Excel conditional formatting not working? Diagnose an incomplete Apply to range and check a formula rule against a fictional status tracker. This guide uses a small fictional table and an independent answer check.
Download the original Excel practice workbook. A plain-text practice table and independent answer check are also available. Make changes in a disposable copy.
What success looks like. After the rule's range reaches row 7, only W-02, W-04 and W-06 (the Late rows) should be highlighted. W-01, W-03 and W-05 must remain unhighlighted.
1. Prepare the sample
Open a disposable copy of the Excel workbook. Its fictional table is already in A1:C7, with W-06 on row 7. The workbook already contains one deliberately short native conditional-formatting rule over A2:C6, using =$B2="Late". You should see W-02 and W-04 highlighted while W-06 remains plain. The text table is a fallback if you cannot use the workbook; in that case you must create the same rule yourself.
Checkpoint: W-06 is on worksheet row 7.
2. Inspect the setting or formula
In Excel for the web, open Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules and select the preinstalled practice rule. If the pane initially shows only rules for selected cells, switch its scope to this sheet.
Checkpoint: Find the rule for the tracker range.
3. Make the focused correction
Inspect Apply to range and extend the preinstalled rule from A2:C6 to A2:C7. Keep the same formula and fill.
Checkpoint: Range includes row 7.
4. Run a positive check
Check the existing formula =$B2="Late": column B stays fixed while the row number changes. Inspect overlapping rules only if the range and formula are already correct.
Checkpoint: The formula refers to B2 for the first data row.
5. Run a negative check
Verify that W-02, W-04 and W-06 are highlighted and W-01, W-03 and W-05 are not.
Checkpoint: Do not erase unrelated formatting.
If it still does not work
An incomplete Apply to range is one cause, not a universal diagnosis. If the range already includes row 7, inspect the rule formula and any overlapping rules; do not clear all formatting indiscriminately.
Verify the result
After the rule's range reaches row 7, only W-02, W-04 and W-06 (the Late rows) should be highlighted. W-01, W-03 and W-05 must remain unhighlighted. In your Excel copy, inspect the rule after saving and confirm the fill on all six task rows. If W-06 remains plain, recheck Apply to range; if a non-Late row is filled, recheck the formula and overlapping rules.
Official sources
- Microsoft Excel help (checked 1 November 2026).
Any video panel without a marked actual-app capture is an illustrative diagram of fictional practice data.
Practice downloads.
The exercise files contain invented information. Save a local copy before editing.