When several conditional-formatting rules cover the same cells, their order can explain an unexpected color. Pasting formatted cells can also introduce additional rules that were not obvious in the original design.
Inventory the overlapping rules
Select an affected cell and open Format > Conditional formatting. Inspect each rule’s applied range and condition. Compare a cell with the expected appearance against one with the unexpected appearance.
Check whether the color is conditional formatting or ordinary cell formatting. A manually applied fill is a different source of appearance and may remain after a rule is removed.
Set the intended priority
Google evaluates rules in the order listed; the first true rule defines the format. Drag rules to establish the intended order. A specific urgent-status rule may need to precede a broader general-status rule.
Do not reorder blindly until you know which conditions overlap. If two rules represent incompatible business meanings, adjust their conditions or ranges instead of using priority to conceal an unresolved data problem.
Remove only redundant rules
Test records that match each individual condition and records that match several conditions. Include boundary values and blanks. Remove a rule only after confirming that its behavior is no longer needed elsewhere in its range.
For future pastes, choose values-only or the appropriate specific paste mode when source formatting is unwanted. Normal copying can carry conditional-formatting rules into the destination. Keep a recoverable version before broad cleanup, then compare the number and scope of remaining rules. The goal is a clear, explainable priority scheme rather than simply deleting every rule until the sheet appears uniform.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.