Compare two or more worksheets at the same time
Applies ToExcel for Microsoft 365 Excel for the web Excel 2024 Excel 2021 Excel 2019 Excel 2016 Excel 2013

You can quickly compare two worksheets in the same workbook or in different workbooks by viewing them side by side. You can also arrange multiple worksheets to view them all at the same time.

  1. On the View tab, in the Window group, click New Window.

    Window group on the View tab

  2. On the View tab, in the Window group, click View Side by Side Button image.

  3. In each workbook window, click the sheet that you want to compare.

  4. To scroll both worksheets at the same time, click Synchronous Scrolling Synchronous Scrolling in the Window group on the View tab.

    Note: This option is available only when View Side by Side is turned on.

Tips: 

  • If you resize the workbook windows for optimal viewing, you can click Reset Window Position Button image to return to the original settings.

  • To restore a workbook window to full size, click Maximize Button image at the upper-right corner of the workbook window.

  1. Open both of the workbooks that contain the worksheets that you want to compare.

  2. On the View tab, in the Window group, click View Side by Side Button image.

    Window group on the View tab

    If you have more than two workbooks open, Excel displays the Compare Side by Side dialog box. In this dialog box, under Compare Side by Side with, click the workbook that contains the worksheet that you want to compare with your active worksheet, and then click OK.

  3. In each workbook window, click the sheet that you want to compare.

  4. To scroll both worksheets at the same time, click Synchronous Scrolling Synchronous Scrolling in the Window group on the View tab.

    Note: This option is available only when View Side by Side is turned on.

Tips: 

  • Beginning with Excel 2013, workbooks that you open in Excel are no longer displayed as multiple workbook windows inside a single Excel window. Instead, they are shown as separate Excel windows. Because workbooks don’t share the same Excel window, they are displayed with their own ribbon, and you can view the open workbooks on different monitors.

  • If you resize the workbook windows for optimal viewing, you can click Reset Window Position Button image to return to the original settings.

  • To restore a workbook window to full size, click Maximize Button image at the upper-right corner of the workbook window.

  1. Open one or more workbooks that contain the worksheets that you want to view at the same time.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • If the worksheets that you want to view are in the same workbook, do the following:

      1. Click a worksheet that you want to view.

      2. On the View tab, in the Window group, click New Window.

        Window group on the View tab

      3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each sheet that you want to view.

    • If the worksheets that you want to view are in different workbooks, continue with step 3.

  3. On the View tab, in the Window group, click Arrange All.

  4. Under Arrange, click the option that you want.

  5. If the sheets that you want to view are all located in the active workbook, select the Windows of active workbook check box.

Tip: To restore a workbook window to full size, click Maximize Button image at the upper-right corner of the workbook window.

  1. On the View tab, in the Window group, click New Window.

    New button icon in view tab in the ribbon

  2. In each workbook window, click the sheet that you want to compare.

Need more help?

You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community or get support in Communities.

See Also

Create, apply, or delete a custom view

Preview worksheet pages before you print

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