Conditional formatting not updating

[SEMMatt]

How can I update the formula of conditional formatting among many cells. "Applies to" lets me choose many cells but the actual formula locks into one cell (i.e. $A$1) but doesn't update across the other cells (i.e. A2, A3, A4). How can I fix that?

[Ace_XL]

use A1 or $A1 instead

[benishiryo]

hi SEMMatt, it would be good to share your formula to get a better picture & for our solution to be easily related to you. assuming you want to highlight if they are "ABC". then select the range you want to apply to (say from A1:A10)
go to Home -> Conditional Formatting -> New Rule -> Use a formula to determine which cells to format -> Format values where this formula is true:
=$A1="ABC"

you actually don't have to put dollar signs, but the above can also be used for situations like A1:C10, & whenever column A is "ABC", it highlights column B & C too, based on the row in A