Xlookup wildcard The XLOOKUP function in Excel handles vertical or horizontal arrays and supports exact matches, wildcards, and binary searches. This powerful function simplifies data retrieval tasks while providing enhanced flexibility and functionality that addresses many limitations of its predecessors. In the example shown, the formula in H7 is: =TRANSPOSE ( (XLOOKUP (H4,D5:D15,B5:E15,"Not found",2))) which performs a wildcard match with the value in H4 and returns all 4 fields as the result. Oct 19, 2025 · XLOOKUP multiple conditions are summarized in one article, including Boolean product (AND), string concatenation (with caution), OR/wildcards, and approximate matches + multiple conditions (IF filtering). For example, look up the price of an automotive part by the part number, or find an employee name based on their employee ID. It is available in new versions of excel. Jun 8, 2025 · Excel’s XLOOKUP function represents a revolutionary advancement in spreadsheet lookup capabilities, offering a modern alternative to traditional VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP functions. -1: For an May 23, 2024 · Re: Xlookup Wild Card - Lookup value is full text and lookup array is partial Probably not, but not tested. Nov 28, 2018 · I have an XLOOKUP formula in cell E2 that looks at cell B2, searches for that entry in Table A and returns its result in cell E2. Introduction to XLOOKUP and TEXTJOIN In the realm of data analysis and management, Excel's functions serve as the backbone for transforming raw data into insightful information. XLOOKUP, the successor to the venerable VLOOKUP, offers a more Oct 15, 2024 · Learn how to use the XLOOKUP function in Excel when searching for a partial match. It's just that wildcards don't seem to be working. Returns the values in the data column at the position where a match was found in the search column. Sep 4, 2019 · Learn how the new XLOOKUP function can replace VLOOKUP or INDEX MATCH. This video shows how we can use wildcards (partial matches) with the XLOOKUP and FILTER functions. Here you will find 10 XLOOKUP examples + download file Mar 9, 2023 · In this example, the XLOOKUP formula will allow the use of wildcards, so the user could enter wildcards in the lookup cell. The formula finds "Alice Brown" and returns her email address, alice. Any idea what I'm doing wrong? Mar 14, 2023 · Everything you need to know about wildcards: what wildcard characters Excel recognizes, and how to best use them with built-in features and in formulas with text and numbers. brown@email. Jul 13, 2024 · Using wildcards with XLOOKUP enhances its flexibility, enabling you to perform partial matches and more complex searches. We are going to cover:Part Nov 28, 2019 · The Excel XLOOKUP function is a new and a more flexible replacement for older functions like VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, or INDEX and MATCH. Jan 20, 2024 · The asterisk (*) wildcard is a versatile feature in Excel that enables users to locate partial matches within their data efficiently. In the example shown, the formula in G5 is: =XLOOKUP (1, (data [Color]="red")+ (data [Color]="pink"),data) where data is the name of the Excel Table in the range B5:E14. XLOOKUP ("*" & Mod_SelectColumns. For numeric data, you can use logical operators. Includes structured references, performance tips, and troubleshooting. Feb 2, 2024 · Excel XLOOKUP function - syntax and uses The XLOOKUP function in Excel searches a range or an array for a specified value and returns the related value from another column. In this guide, we're going to show you how to use Wildcard criteria in Excel formulas. Application. Nov 21, 2023 · Learn how to use wildcards with XLOOKUP and FILTER functions in Excel to perform partial matches and search for patterns within a dataset. And so, you don’t have to embed wildcard characters into the search criterion to perform a partial match as above. Mar 21, 2023 · How to use a wild card character in Xlookup function to find partial entries. In this video, we dive into the world of wildcard characters and d Wildcards only work with text. Xlookup - wildcard Lookup in Excel Extreme Automation - Kamal Girdher 20. To use this option, we just add a wildcard character like asterisk (*) to the lookup value. ️ Using Wildcards for Partial Matches: Explore XLOOKUP becomes more powerful in Excel with the new match mode 3, which enables using regex patterns as the search key. Learn how to use the wildcard characters in Excel with real example formulas and practice exercises. . It's way better than VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH. Apr 28, 2024 · Im trying to apply XLookup to find names in a spreadsheet and return text Yes/No from another spreadsheet where it is using the full name. Enter 2 as the match_mode value to let Excel know that you are trying to do a partial match. Becasue of split and double shifts I have to use wildcards in the formula. Here is a list of the most common functions that do: AVERAGEIF, AVERAGEIFS COUNTIF, COUNTIFS MATCH MAXIFS, MINIFS SEARCH SUMIF, SUMIFS VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP XLOOKUP XMATCH Wildcards in Excel's Find and Apr 7, 2025 · We explain different types of Excel VLOOKUP wildcard. The issue is with the lookup being a # that is format to general. XLOOKUP function is a modern and flexible replacement for older functions like VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and LOOKUP. In the example shown, XLOOKUP is configured to match the value entered in cell E5, which may appear anywhere in the lookup values in B5:B15. For example, in A3, the user could enter a??en to find Allen's employee id or enter bar* to find Barstow's employee id. If all the lookup values are the same format, that is a name followed by " Payment" space hyphen space date, you can, in theory, use TEXTBEFORE to extract the lookup value. Among these, XLOOKUP and TEXTJOIN stand out as particularly powerful tools. XLOOKUP Searches for a value in an array and returns a reference to a cell or range of cells. Fast answers need visual help. Basically, I just need to perform a wilcard match on the 'Table Array' instead of in Lookup value. Third, you'll learn how to use the xlookup with multiple conditions to replace the index match. These ways will help you to use XLOOKUP function. After this video, you'll be able to use wildcards in XLOOKUP. However, like any advanced feature, users might sometimes encounter issues where XLOOKUP doesn’t work as anticipated. Understanding the root causes of these issues is essential for efficient Dec 13, 2023 · Hi All, I am looking for some guidance on my problem, as I have hit a dead end. Attache is the excel file. The star * matches zero or more characters. 🚀 Unlock hidden Excel tricks and hacks, and become a time-saving Excel pro 👉 excel May 20, 2023 · Learn how to use the powerful XLOOKUP function in Excel to easily and quickly find and retrieve data in your spreadsheets, improving your productivity and efficiency. Below is my data set: Row #Lookup ValueTable… This video shows an example of the XLOOKUP Function with a "Wildcard" match type. Jun 4, 2025 · XLOOKUP Function The Excel XLOOKUP function is a powerful tool designed to look up a value in one range and return a corresponding value in another range — it supports approximate and exact matching, wildcards, regular expressions (regex), reverse searches, and lookups in vertical or horizontal ranges. Oct 15, 2019 · Using wildcards in XLOOKUP Like with the other functions, you can also incorporate wildcards into XLOOKUP as well. The XLOOKUP function is available in Excel 2021 and later (including Excel 365). Find out why XLOOKUP is the clear winner. Feb 6, 2020 · Learn all about the new Excel XLOOKUP Function. This guide walks you through using XLOOKUP to find orders based on partial matches, allowing you to retrieve names, sales amounts, and order dates with ease. Is there any way I can do this? It looks like the wildcard option in Xlookup only works on the lookup value, not the lookup array. Wildcard means that you do not specify a part of the search value (or the complete search value). Jul 29, 2025 · Trying to use either xlookup or index/match look up % from table with using wildcards on the lookup value. XLOOKUP can look vertically and horizontally, to the left and right, and supports approximate and exact matching, as well as wildcards (* ?) for partial matches. Functions that support wildcards Not all functions allow wildcards. XLOOKUP is a function that has wildcard use built-in. Apr 20, 2024 · In XLOOKUP and XMATCH wildcard search does not work together with binary search Regina Henschel 306 Apr 20, 2024, 2:10 PM Aug 25, 2022 · Example 5: Wildcard Match XLOOKUP in Google Sheets supports three wildcards, *, ?, and ~. XLOOKUP with Wildcards XLOOKUP supports wildcard characters (* and ?) for partial matches. = XLOOKUP ( B2, Contact[Name], Contact[Email], 2 ) In this example we use the * and ? character to search for partial matches in a name and then return the corresponding email address. Building competency with wildcard characters becomes easier when you have solid Excel Implement accurate lookups with Excel XLOOKUP and XMATCH. XLOOKUP is a modern and flexible replacement for older functions like VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and LOOKUP. It is an If text contains Xlookup function, or an XLOOKUP (Contains) funct Oct 28, 2024 · The XLOOKUP function is a versatile and powerful tool for both vertical and horizontal lookups, reverse searches, and much more. This is the demonstration file to accompany the article, How to use wildcards with the XLOOKUP() function in Excel, by Susan Harkins. Nov 3, 2025 · XLOOKUP comes with a wildcard search option in the 4th argument so you can explicitly request a search using wildcard characters. However when there is a difference - such as Adobe After Effects 2021 in column A and Adobe After Effects 2022 in column C the XLOOKUP fails as can be seen with the #N/A in column B. Unlike these traditional functions, XLOOKUP can search both vertically and horizontally, making it ideal for retrieving specific values from any range in a table. It can look up both vertically and horizontally and perform an exact match (default), approximate (closest) match, or wildcard (partial) match. In cell A4, there's Beasley, and I aim at using the XLOOKUP() function to search in the Full name column (cells H2:H10), and get the corresponding Email (in cells Jun 27, 2024 · In this article, I explained 4 easy ways to perform XLOOKUP with Multiple Criteria. XLOOKUP is a newly introduced function in Microsoft Excel. We also share examples for each wildcard and explain how to troubleshoot any issues. Note: see below for an equivalent formula based on INDEX and MATCH. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. With XLOOKUP, you can look in one column for a search term and return a result from the same row in another column, regardless of which side the return column is on. Oct 9, 2025 · Excel’s XLOOKUP function, introduced as a powerful replacement for the traditional VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP functions, offers a more versatile and straightforward approach to searching data in spreadsheets. The question mark ? matches exactly one character. Note: In older versions of Excel that do Jan 17, 2021 · Our next advanced XLOOKUP example is about wildcard characters. Jan 6, 2020 · Wildcard represents one or more other characters. Excel XLOOKUP Wildcard in 6 Easy Steps (+ Free Easy-To-Adjust Excel Workbook Example) In this Excel XLOOKUP Wildcard Tutorial, you learn how to create an Excel XLOOKUP wildcard formula, where the XLOOKUP function considers wildcards when searching for a match. Feb 9, 2023 · This tutorial will demonstrate how to debug XLOOKUP formulas in Excel. Jan 23, 2025 · The XLOOKUP function offers numerous benefits, including compatibility with both vertical and horizontal data, no requirement for sorted data, and support for wildcard characters. In the example shown, the formula in F5 is: XLOOKUP ("*"&G4&"*",data [Title],data,,2) Where G4 contains a partial string to look for and data is an Excel Table in the range B5:D16. Oct 23, 2023 · The XLOOKUP function contains built-in support for wildcards, but this feature must be enabled explicitly by setting match mode to the number 2. Includes practical examples, including two-way lookups, default values (IFNA replacement), wildcards, Nth/last find, multiple criteria, multiple column returns (spill), and sort/search modes. Make sure both your lookup value and lookup range are formatted as text or the same data type. [search_mode] is an optional argument, and defaults to 1 when omitted. Aug 30, 2024 · The XLOOKUP function offers an in-built mode for performing wildcard character matches. May 25, 2023 · For a VBA application I am trying to look for wildcard matches (before or after variable) in another sheet. XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found], [match_mode],[search_mode]) This affects how the function searches for and identifies the value being sought. By mastering advanced techniques such as dynamic criteria, case sensitivity, performance optimization, and handling multiple criteria, you can unlock the full potential of wildcard searches and enhance your data analysis Apr 29, 2024 · I'm playing with XLOOKUP with wildcards (Match_Mode 2). +Video Nov 8, 2024 · Learn how to use XLOOKUP to match text values with the help of the 5th argument, wildcard character match mode. =XLOOKUP ("Apple",table_name!fruit,table_name!price) XLOOKUP (search_key,lookup_range,result_range,missing_value,match_mode) by default] The manner in which to find a match for the search_key. XLOOKUP will then search for any value that matches that In This Tutorial, You'll Learn: ️ Handling Missing Items: Understand how to effectively manage errors and missing items in data using XLOOKUP. If your version of Excel does not support XLOOKUP, read how to use the VLOOKUP Aug 14, 2025 · One misconception about the XLOOKUP function in Microsoft Excel is that you can only input a single condition when searching for a value in your dataset, where, in fact, you can look up values based on multiple criteria. Final Thoughts on "How To Use the XLOOKUP Function in Google Sheets" I have Office365, so the function itself works. Oct 9, 2025 · Learn how to use XLOOKUP for partial matches in Excel with wildcards, examples, and step-by-step formulas to find flexible text or code matches easily. Oct 9, 2025 · The XLOOKUP function in Excel includes an argument for “match mode,” which is crucial for determining how the function matches the lookup value with values in the lookup array. Hi Excel Forum, I'm trying to use a Xlookup function with wildcard which references two cells. 1: For an exact match or the next value that is greater than the search_key. INDEX/MATCH head-to-head on speed, flexibility, and ease of use. XLOOKUP is a great function and has several advantages over the VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH functions. XLOOKUP supports approximate and exact matching, wildcards (* ?) or regular expressions for partial matches, and lookups in vertical or horizontal ranges. Wildcards work similarly among all three formulas, but the key difference is that XLOOKUP has multiple arguments for its fourth (optional) argument which dictates how you want the data extracted. Jun 18, 2025 · Learn how to use XLOOKUP function in Excel using this step-by-step tutorial with 10 practical examples and a free sample workbook. Use the XLOOKUP function to find things in a table or range by row. Mar 20, 2025 · =XLOOKUP ("*Jane*", B2:B5, C2:C5, "No Match", 2) *Jane*: The asterisks act as wildcards. To use XLOOKUP with wildcards, you need to use the asterisk (*) character as a wildcard and then specify the criteria for the lookup. But becasue of that, Shift2a shows up in *Shift2* search results. In this illustration I perform a "partial name match" on a lookup array c Jun 25, 2024 · Example 9 – Apply Excel XLOOKUP Function to Find Partial Match Using Wildcard In the movie sample dataset, we will find the genre of a given movie with a wildcard. Get expert tips, ask questions, and share your love for all things Excel. XLOOKUP is Excel’s powerful lookup function that replaces legacy lookup functions such as VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP. I have been trying =XLOOKUP ("*"&A2&"*",C2 May 16, 2024 · To configure XLOOKUP with Boolean OR logic, use a lookup value of 1 with a logical expression based on addition. The XLOOKUP function in Excel offers powerful search capabilities, especially when combined with wildcards. Apr 24, 2024 · Wildcard searches with XLOOKUP offer a powerful mechanism for retrieving data based on flexible search criteria in Excel. Jan 14, 2022 · I have been trying to use XLOOKUP to return the value of the relevant cell in column D into column B. The tilde ~ is an escape character that lets you search for a * or ?, instead of using them as wildcards. Elevate your spreadsheet skills with us! Apr 9, 2025 · XLOOKUP: XLOOKUP and TEXTJOIN: Excel s Power Couple for Data Analysis 1. Sep 6, 2024 · Learn how to use XLOOKUP with wildcards in Excel to perform advanced substring searches, enabling partial matches for more efficient data retrieval. Nov 19, 2024 · Exercise 1: XLOOKUP with Exact Match Before we dive into the RegEx capabilities, let’s take a step back and look at the XLOOKUP function itself. PnPRefRange & "*", May 4, 2024 · Tutorial provides a detailed example on how to use the 2 wildcards available in xlookup. Here’s how to use XLOOKUP in Google Sheets. With added benefits like default exact matching and the ability to handle errors more gracefully Nov 16, 2023 · XLOOKUP is a powerful function in Excel that can be used to perform lookups with wildcards. This article will explain how to use wildcards with XLOOKUP, providing step-by-step instructions, examples, and best practices. 2: Enables wildcard match mode. In the worksheet shown, the formula in F5 looks like this: =XLOOKUP (" [A-Z] {3}"&F4&" [A-Z] {2}",B5:B16,C5:C16,,3) This formula matches the number entered in cell F4 against the product codes in column B using a regex pattern. May 5, 2021 · Hi, I am having trouble with adding a wildcard to my Xlookup formula. Note that match_mode must be set to 2 to use wildcards with XLOOKUP. Issue I am having is that some of the corresponding names appear differently on my data sheet by added information… May 6, 2025 · The Excel XLOOKUP function is a powerful tool designed to look up a value in one range and return a corresponding value in another range — it supports approximate and exact matching, wildcards, regular expressions (regex), reverse searches, and lookups in vertical or horizontal ranges. It's easy to do an XLOOKUP and spit out which employee is working a particular shift on a particular day, if it's missing, or if multiple people are working a shift. Apr 23, 2024 · XLOOKUP Google Sheets is a major upgrade over VLOOKUP and brings along lots of interesting customization. trueA vibrant community of Excel enthusiasts. It's simple, flexible, and eliminates the limitations of older Aug 14, 2025 · The XLOOKUP function in Excel is a powerful and flexible tool designed to replace older lookup functions like VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP. This is the trick that turns Excel into a mind reader. This is I'm trying to perform a lookup on a table where some of the records in the lookup table have a wildcard- for example The lookup value is something like 300-10-20 and the lookup array has 100-10-10, 200-10-10 and 300-10-*. While Excel doesn't support full regex functionality, you can use wildcards with creative formula structuring (functions like SEARCH(), TEXT(), and ISNUMBER()). Aug 13, 2024 · To create a "contains substring" type lookup formula, you can use the XLOOKUP function with wildcards. XLOOKUP can perform a reverse search Then, you'll learn how to use the XLOOKUP with a wildcard for approximate matches. Jun 29, 2024 · Use * to match any number of characters and ? to match a single character. Below is a breakdown of the different Apr 4, 2025 · This is valuable for time-series data analysis. Not only that, the Xlookup function can return values even if the dataset is organized horizontally. XLOOKUP supports several matching modes: approximate matching, exact matching, partial matches using either wildcards (* ? ~) or regular expressions, and lookups in either vertical or horizontal ranges. But you need to re-swizzle your arguments to be: =XLOOKUP( "*"&A1&"*" , lookup_range, return_range , , 2 ) What Undercode Say XLOOKUP with the asterisk wildcard character is a versatile tool in Excel that can significantly enhance your data lookup capabilities. 9K subscribers Subscribed Cross lookup. Mar 16, 2023 · Xlookup not working in office 365 when trying to search with wildcard Asked 2 years, 8 months ago Modified 2 years, 8 months ago Viewed 955 times XLOOKUP is a great alternative for VLOOKUP and helps you search ranges or arrays. Jul 3, 2025 · Which Excel lookup function should you use in 2025? We compare XLOOKUP vs. Sometimes extra spaces in your data can prevent matches. VLOOKUP vs. I have "wrapped" the search cell in a wildcard - "*"&E2&"*" - so that when I copy the formula down it would take into account any difference in the cell in column Nov 8, 2024 · 2: The [match_mode] argument is set to 2, which enables wildcard matching. The XLOOKUP formula uses wildcards to find any product containing "Pixel" and return its code. 0:00 Intro 0:38 How-to use asterisk4:26 How-to use question mark8:28 Jun 15, 2022 · XLOOKUP is most commonly used for exact matches, but what if you don’t fully know what you’re searching for? Fortunately, it supports wildcards, which are characters that take the place of text so you can perform partial matches. XLOOKUP is a great function and has several advantages ov Apr 7, 2025 · Master Excel's XLOOKUP function with 10 practical examples for exact matches, wildcards, multi-criteria lookups, and more, to improve your spreadsheet skills. If both reference cells are in the reference table i want it to put the cost in. This example demonstrates finding products with partial name matches. This allows XLOOKUP to interpret the * and ? as wildcards for flexible searching. Mar 25, 2022 · Thanks to XLOOKUP () this task is easier than ever, and it even supports wildcards! In this article, I’ll show you how to use the asterisk wildcard (*) to create a more flexible lookup value. Result: Finance Comparison: XLOOKUP vs VLOOKUP Summary: The XLOOKUP function is a game-changer and should be your go-to for most lookup scenarios in Excel. Its ability to handle errors gracefully, find approximate matches, and use wildcards makes it a must-know function for any Excel user. This works perfectly when column A and column C are an exact match. You can use TRIM () on your lookup array to clean it up. What's more, there are two methods you can use, each differing in complexity and versatility. The syntax of the XLOOKUP function is as follows: Jan 4, 2025 · To use a regex pattern in an XLOOKUP formula, you can enable "regex match" as the match mode and then provide a regex pattern in the lookup value. Check how to use it with our practical guide. See examples, video walkthrough, sample file and FAQs. More general information on formula criteria here. I believe it used to be if you want it to return results where a item in that excel it was = =XLOOKUP (""&"Text"&& Aug 29, 2019 · With VLOOKUP, we can choose True or False, but XLOOKUP offers more options: The wildcard character match is more of what we think about when we want to do a partial match. The table shows product names and codes. May 7, 2024 · Excel XLOOKUP is a function that makes a look up to the left or to the right, top to bottom or bottom to top, and allows for wildcards. May 26, 2024 · Wildcards for Partial Matches: XLOOKUP allows using wildcards (*) as part of the lookup value, enabling searches for a range of values that meet specific criteria. From the intro of this Microsoft Excel tutorial: Lookup May 30, 2025 · Excel wildcard characters are special symbols that help users perform partial matches and flexible data operations across large datasets. Jun 23, 2025 · I'm following an Excel tutorial. When it is using the exact text "Deliver" or a cell reference it works fine but as For XLOOKUP, you can use wildcards in the lookup_value argument and specify that in the [match_mode] argument. 💯 Master the art of Excel with our tutorial on how to use wildcards with XLOOKUP and FILTER. Plus features for partial matches with wildcards and reverse order lookup. May 11, 2024 · To perform a partial match with XLOOKUP, supply 2 for the match mode argument to allow wildcards. With the number 56 in May 6, 2023 · The order of the arguments is different for all the various IF() functions and the XLOOKUP() function: =COUNTIF( range , lookup_value) =XLOOKUP( lookup_value , lookup_range , return_range ) You correctly added the wildcard match_mode to the XLOOKUP. Look at the initials of the Lookup functions. Nov 14, 2023 · This tutorial explains how to use the XLOOKUP function in Excel with wildcard characters, including an example. Whether you’re performing forward or reverse lookups, handling partial matches, or dealing with multiple criteria, XLOOKUP offers a robust solution. com. 6 days ago · In this video, I’m showing you how to make XLOOKUP smarter using Wildcards. This is especially useful when you need to match a pattern of data that may have a variable or unknown value. By representing any sequence of characters, including zero characters, the asterisk wildcard expands the search capability, particularly when combined with functions like XLOOKUP. Consider a scenario where you have a dataset with product names listed in column A May 22, 2022 · Is Xlookup Better than VLOOKUP or HLOOKUP? Yes, Xlookup outperforms Vlookup and Hlookup as the new Xlookup function can perform two-way lookups, find exact, partial, and even wildcard matches. eilg flafx gtddr wamyaiwd qzztdrw wmznv dipj zvza akwmwi hhktu kqhxm ahzvl yawn jhpgud imyaeaa