VBA & Macro Problems

How to Increase Visible Items in an Excel Combo Box on Mac

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to expand the drop-down list window of a combo box so that all or more items are visible simultaneously without having to scroll.

How to Increase Visible Items in an Excel Combo Box on Mac

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Configuring a form-control combo box on a spreadsheet with a long list of drop-down entries.
Observed behavior: By default, the combo box shows a limited number of items and forces the user to scroll. Excel for Mac lacks ActiveX controls and does not offer a native UI option to change the visible list entries count for standard form controls.

Before you start

Ensure the Developer tab is enabled in your ribbon and that your spreadsheet is saved in a macro-enabled format (.xlsm) before applying VBA solutions.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a VBA Macro to Increase Drop-Down Lines

Since Excel for Mac lacks ActiveX properties, using a simple VBA macro is the most effective way to modify the visible item count for a form control.

This method programmatically changes the internal 'DropDownLines' property of your specific combo box shape, letting you display as many items as needed.

Open the VBA Editor

Press Option + F11 or go to the Developer tab and click 'Visual Basic' to open the macro editor.

Insert a New Module

In the editor, go to Insert > Module to create a blank script area.

Enter the Macro Code

Type the following code: Sub ResizeComboBox() ActiveSheet.Shapes.Range(Array("Drop Down 1")).DropDownLines = 25 End Sub (Be sure to replace "Drop Down 1" with your actual combo box name and "25" with your desired number of lines).

Execute the Macro

Press F5 or click the Run button. Return to your spreadsheet; your combo box will now display the increased number of items.

Use a VBA Macro to Increase Drop-Down Lines

Identify the Shape Name: To find the exact name of your combo box, right-click or Control-click it, then look at the Name Box located to the left of the formula bar.

Solution 2

Manually Resize the Combo Box Form Control

You can physically resize the combo box on the sheet so that the control itself takes up more space and is easier to interact with.

Solution 3

Alternative: Use a Data Validation List

If you prefer not to use VBA or form controls, setting up cell-based Data Validation is a built-in alternative.

Advanced Spreadsheet Features

Effortlessly Manage Form Controls and Macros with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Office provides robust native support for VBA and form controls, allowing you to easily configure combo boxes, adjust drop-down lines, and automate your interactive sheet elements with full Microsoft Excel compatibility.

1. Enable the Developer Tab: Open WPS Spreadsheet, navigate to the Options menu, and enable the Developer tab to access advanced form controls.
2. Insert a Combo Box: Click on the Developer tab, select 'Insert', and choose the Combo Box form control. Click and drag on your sheet to draw it.
3. Adjust Lines via VBA: Open the built-in VBA Editor, insert a quick macro to set '.DropDownLines = 25', and run it to instantly expand your visible list items.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xlsm, .csv) formatsNatively supports advanced VBA macros and Developer toolsLightweight, fast-loading, and completely free to download

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I find ActiveX controls in Excel for Mac?

Excel for Mac does not support ActiveX controls due to fundamental differences in the macOS operating system environment. You must use standard Form Controls instead, which rely on VBA to alter advanced properties like drop-down lines.

Is there a maximum number of items I can show in a combo box?

While you can use VBA to set a high number for the DropDownLines property, the maximum visible items are ultimately constrained by your screen resolution and window height. If the number exceeds the screen space, a scrollbar will still appear.

Can I increase the visible drop-down items of a Data Validation list?

No, Excel's standard Data Validation lists have a fixed maximum number of visible items (usually capped at 8) before scrolling is required. This limit cannot be changed via standard UI or VBA, which is why Form Control combo boxes are often preferred for displaying longer lists.

Excel & Data Problems