Filtering data that contains merged cells in Excel can be frustrating. If you try to use the built-in filter, you’ll often notice:

• Some rows don’t get filtered correctly
• Data appears missing or misaligned
• Only the first cell in a merged group is recognized

This happens because Excel only stores the value in the top-left cell of a merged range, which breaks normal filtering behavior.

Method 1: Unmerge and fill down (manual workaround)

1. Select your data
2. Go to Home → Merge & Center → Unmerge Cells
3. Select the column with blanks by pressing Ctrl + G → Special → Blanks
4. Type = then press ↑ (reference the cell above)
5. Press Ctrl + Enter to fill all blanks
6. Apply filter again

If you want a more detailed walkthrough with screenshots, here’s a guide:
https://www.extendoffice.com/documents/excel/1955-excel-filter-merged-cells.html

Method 2: Use Kutools for Excel (faster)

1. Select the column
2. Go to Kutools Plus → Special Filter
3. Choose Merge Cells
4. Enter or pick the value
5. Click OK

This avoids the multi-step manual process and keeps your data structure intact.

How do you usually deal with merged cells when filtering data?