What you will build

Highlight the entire row for tasks whose Status is Working without changing the source data. Design is the expected matching row.

Learning objective

Select A2:C4, open Format > Conditional formatting, configure a custom formula based on Status, choose the formatting style and verify the highlighted row.

Open the practice workbook

The sample table is A1:C4. Due is column B and Status is column C.

HANDS-ON PRACTICE

Practice in your own copy

Make your own Google Sheets copy with the same data, formulas, formatting, filter and frozen header. The original remains unchanged.

Make a Google Sheets copy (access required) ↗View original

Sign in to Google. If the original is not publicly shared, download the full workbook and import it into Google Sheets, or paste the example data into your own sheet.

Google Sheets practice table before the conditional-formatting steps, with Task, Due and Status visible and no unrelated data on the sheet.

Open the sample workbook in Google Drive (access required) ↗

Hands-on practice

Step 1: Confirm the table still contains Brief / Done, Design / Working and QA / Planned, then select A2:C4 so formatting can cover each whole task row.

Google Sheets with A2:C4 selected so the conditional-formatting rule can apply to each whole task row.

Step 2: Click Format in the top menu bar, then click Conditional formatting.

Google Sheets with A2:C4 selected and the Format menu open, with Conditional formatting highlighted under the visible menu path Format > Conditional formatting.

Step 3: In Conditional format rules, confirm Apply to range is A2:C4, choose Custom formula is, enter the formula below, choose a clearly visible fill color under Formatting style, then click Done.

Conditional format rules sidebar configured for A2:C4 with the Working-status custom formula, a visible fill style, and the Done button ready.
=$C2="Working"

Step 4: Verify the result. Design is highlighted because its Status is Working; Brief is Done and QA is Planned, so those rows are not highlighted.

Final Google Sheets result with the Design row highlighted because Status is Working, while Brief and QA remain unhighlighted.

Checkpoint

TaskDueStatusExpected match
Brief2026-09-20DoneNo
Design2026-09-25WorkingYes
QA2026-10-05PlannedNo

The expected result is stable as long as the sample Status values remain Done, Working and Planned.

Common mistakes and fixes

Correction: return to the exact range and command named in the steps, then compare the live sheet with the Task, Due, Status, Expected match source fields.

Independent practice

Change QA from Planned to Working and confirm QA becomes highlighted, then restore Planned.

Key takeaways

  • ✓Complete “Use conditional formatting” using the visible Task, Due, Status, Expected match sample so each action and the final state can be checked against the source data.
  • ✓Confirm the table still contains Brief / Done, Design / Working and QA / Planned, then select A2:C4 so formatting can cover each whole task row.
  • ✓Click Format in the top menu bar, then click Conditional formatting.
  • ✓If the result differs, reselect A2:C4, then use Format > Conditional formatting and verify the rule is applied to the intended range before changing source values.
  • ✓Change QA from Planned to Working and confirm QA becomes highlighted, then restore Planned.
QUICK CHECK

Check your understanding

Answer four questions about the practice sheet.

1. What is the correct first action in “Use conditional formatting”?
2. Which follow-up action belongs to “Use conditional formatting”?
3. What should you verify before “Use conditional formatting” is complete?
4. Which correction is appropriate if “Use conditional formatting” behaves unexpectedly?

Continue learning

Previous lesson: Create a dropdown list; this completes the Foundations beginner sequence.