How to Use a Slicer in Google Sheets

Key takeaways

• Using a Google Sheets slicer starts with choosing the necessary data or pivot table, clicking Data → Add a slicer, then selecting the data range, and finally setting the conditions or values for filtering.

• While slicers provide a user-friendly, interactive way to filter data in charts and pivot tables, filters and filter views let you sort, display, and save customized views of spreadsheet data.

• You can add a Google Sheets pivot table slicer by clicking on the pivot table you want to filter, and then clicking Data → Add a slicer, which will affect all tables in the sheet that share the same data.

A Google Sheets slicer is an interactive and accessible tool that lets you filter data in charts, tables, and pivot tables, improving data analysis and presentation. Explore how to add a slicer to filter your Google Sheets data, as well as advanced functionality and common troubleshooting steps.

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What is a Google Sheet slicer?

Slicers are interactive and accessible tools that let you filter data in charts, tables, and pivot tables. You can think of slicers as remote controls that operate on top of your existing spreadsheet. Slicers can significantly improve data analysis and presentation by providing interactive filtering features and the capability to link with multiple data sets.

Key features

Key features of slicers include visual, one-click filtering, native pivot table and chart integration, and customizable design. You can also utilize the following slicer features:

• Multi-slicer functionality: You can use multiple slicers in the same spreadsheet by applying them to separate pivot tables or charts.

• Appearance customization: You can customize your slicer’s appearance by clicking the three little dots next to it and clicking Edit. Here, you can alter the font style, size, format, title, color, and background.

• Real-time collaboration: Anyone with access to your sheet can see the current slicer filter in use. New slicer filters are visible to everyone as soon as you apply your changes.

When should you use a Google Sheet data slicer?

Slicers are ideal for scenarios requiring interactive, visual data exploration without altering raw data sets. You can use slicers for a variety of data applications, including the following:

• Quickly filter data sets: You can place a slicer beside a chart or table to allow users of your spreadsheet to quickly exclude certain values and view the updated, filtered results directly in the chart or table.

• Pivot tables or dashboards: Slicers work with pivot tables and can be very helpful for constructing dashboards in Google Sheets.

• Interactive reports: Slicers provide high-quality insights into data sets and their presentation through their interactive filtering options and compatibility with multiple data sets.

Read more: How to Use Data Validation in Google Sheets

Google Sheets slicer vs. filter

A slicer works much like a standard filter, but it's a built-in toolbar within your spreadsheet. Slicers add interactivity by providing a user-friendly interface that you or others can use to filter data in charts, tables, and pivot tables. Meanwhile, filters and filter views let you sort, display, and save customized views of spreadsheet data, even for multiple users or without edit access. Google Sheets allows you to utilize both slicers and filters to fine-tune your spreadsheet’s data.

How to insert a slicer in Google Sheets

To add a slicer to your data set in Google Sheets, open Google Sheets and select a data set, click Data → Add a slicer, select the column you want to filter by, and select your filter rules. You can read more about the process of creating slicers below.

1. Open Google Sheets and select the data set.

Create (or open an existing) spreadsheet at sheets.google.com, then choose the chart or pivot table you wish to apply the filter to.

2. Click Data → Add a slicer.

A Select a data range panel will appear above your spreadsheet. If it doesn't show up, click the grid-shaped Select data range icon in the Data tab of the Slicer sidebar to open it.

3. Select the column you want to filter by.

The Select data range panel automatically suggests data ranges to choose from, but you can also manually select a cell range in the spreadsheet or click a column header to select the whole column.

4. Click the slicer and select your filter rules.

You can filter by condition (select a preset condition or create a custom one) or values (remove selection of the data entries you wish to hide). After making your selection, click Ok, and the slicer toolbar will show up on the spreadsheet.

How to customize your slicer settings

Google Sheets allows you to customize and edit your slicer’s data set, appearance, or filter column. You can use the following steps to further customize your slicers:

• Select the slicer you want to customize.

• Click the three-dot menu on the slicer and choose Edit slicer.

• Here, you can adjust the slicer’s title, position, colors, and font to improve its function and match your spreadsheet’s design.

• Click the striped triangle icon to access the slicer filtering menu.

• You can set a condition for the first cell here, and the same rule is automatically applied to every cell in the range.

Advanced slicer features

Did you know you can use multiple slicers on a single sheet? You can also apply slicers to pivot tables and charts. You can explore these features in more depth and learn how to use them below.

Apply slicers to pivot tables and charts

To add a slicer to a pivot table or chart, click on the pivot table or chart you want to filter, then follow the aforementioned steps (Click Data → Add a slicer). Keep in mind that slicers affect all charts and pivot tables on a sheet that share the same data set. Slicers work with pivot tables and charts by design.

Use multiple slicers

To add multiple slicers to a single sheet to filter different columns, create two different pivot tables and add slicers to each one separately. By default, slicers work independently unless linked to the same pivot table. You can also copy slicers by accessing the three-dot menu on them and clicking Copy slicer, allowing you to keep formatting consistent.

Related tasks

Google Sheets offers alternative measures to filter and present your data without using slicers, including filters and in-cell dropdowns. Understanding these options ensures you choose the right tool for your workflow.

Filtering data without a slicer

You can use Google Sheets filters to filter data without using a slicer. Below is a brief guide to creating filters:

• Highlight the set of cells you would like to filter.

• Click Data → Sort range → Advanced range sorting options.

• If your columns include titles, select Data has header row.

• Choose the first column to sort and select the order.

• Click Sort.

Using an in-cell dropdown instead of a slicer

You can also choose to use an in-cell dropdown instead of a slicer. Below is a brief guide to creating an in-cell dropdown list:

• Choose the cell or cells where you want to add a dropdown list.

• Click Insert → Dropdown.

• Under Criteria, select from the available options:

• Dropdown from a range: Select the cells you want to use for the list items.

• Dropdown: Input the value for the dropdown.

• Click Done.

Troubleshooting common issues

While Google Sheets slicers help simplify data analysis, you may occasionally encounter technical hiccups. Consider the following resolutions to common problems with slicers:

• Slicer not filtering the data: If your slicer is not filtering data, make sure your slicer is affecting the correct data range and that no errors are present within the data.

• Slicer filters not saving: To maintain the filters you use on your slicer after exiting your spreadsheet, set them as default by selecting the slicer you want to make default, then clicking More → Set current filters as default.

• Unresponsive slicer: If your slicer is not responding to updates in your data, try refreshing your Google Sheets page.

Empower your growth with curated learning resources

Explore career paths, assess your skills, and connect with resume guidance while browsing our Career Resources Hub. Or if you want to learn more about Google Sheets and spreadsheet software, check out these free resources:

• Read our Career Chat issue: Top Skill Alert: Open Doors With Spreadsheets

• Watch on YouTube: How to Highlight Duplicates in Google Sheets

• Follow a tutorial: How to Create a Google Sheets Pivot Table

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