The Best Shortcut For Hiding Columns In Excel

by Jacky Chou
Updated on

Key Takeaway:

  • Using keyboard shortcuts to hide columns in Excel provides a quick and easy way to clean up your spreadsheet and focus on the most important data. Simply select the columns you want to hide and press “Ctrl” + “0” on your keyboard.
  • If you prefer to use a mouse shortcut, you can right-click on the selected columns and choose “Hide” from the drop-down menu. This method is especially useful when working with touch screen devices or when using a laptop touchpad.
  • For advanced options, grouping columns allows you to hide multiple columns at once and is particularly useful when working with large data sets. You can also create custom views to hide specific columns and easily switch between different views to display the data you need.
  • To unhide hidden columns, you can use keyboard and mouse shortcuts or advanced options such as unhiding grouped columns or using custom views. Knowing these techniques can save you time and make your Excel spreadsheet more efficient.

Struggling with excel columns? You don’t need to anymore. In this article, we will reveal the best shortcut for hiding columns quickly and easily in Excel. Say goodbye to your tedious column organization tasks!

Shortcut for Hiding Columns in Excel

Hide columns in Excel fast! Two shortcuts can help. Keyboard shortcut? Mouse shortcut? Pick one for a simpler, speedier solution. Efficiently hiding columns? These shortcuts are the way to go!

Shortcut for Hiding Columns in Excel-The Best Shortcut for Hiding Columns in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Harry Arnold

Keyboard Shortcut

When it comes to Excel, knowing the right shortcuts can save a lot of time and effort. If you’re looking for an efficient way to hide columns in Excel, we’ve got you covered.

To hide columns in Excel quickly and easily:

  1. Select the column(s) you want to hide.
  2. Press and hold the “Ctrl” key.
  3. Press the “0” key (zero).
  4. The selected column(s) will disappear.
  5. To unhide, select the next column(s) on either side of the hidden columns.
  6. Press and hold the “Ctrl” key.
  7. Press the “Shift” key while pressing “0”.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to hide different sets of columns in just a matter of seconds, without losing any data.

It’s worth noting that this shortcut can also be used for hiding rows in Excel. Just select the desired rows instead of columns and follow steps one through seven.

Pro Tip: Use keyboard shortcuts like these often to get comfortable with them and improve your speed and efficiency in using Excel.

Get ready to say goodbye to unwanted columns with this keyboard shortcut that will make hiding them a breeze!

Steps to Hide Columns using Keyboard Shortcut

To hide columns quickly and efficiently in Excel, you can use a keyboard shortcut. This allows for a smooth and streamlined workflow without the need to navigate through the Ribbon or menus.

  1. -Press and hold the Ctrl key
  2. -Select the columns you wish to hide by clicking on their letters
  3. -Press the 0 (zero) key while still holding down the Ctrl key
  4. -The selected columns will now be hidden from view

This simple four-step process is an effective way of quickly hiding columns, freeing up valuable space within your spreadsheet. Be mindful that any data contained in these hidden columns will still be present within your workbook – it’s only hidden from view.

It’s worth noting that this keyboard shortcut works in both Windows and Mac versions of Excel, making it a useful tool regardless of your operating system. By taking advantage of this feature, you can save time and improve productivity, enabling you to work more efficiently with large datasets.

Take advantage of this easy-to-use Keyboard Shortcut to quickly hide columns in Excel! Don’t miss out on improving your productivity!

Who needs a cat to play with when you can make your mouse do the tricks? Discover the magic of the mouse shortcut for hiding columns in Excel.

Mouse Shortcut

The Efficient Mouse Shortcut for Hiding Columns in Excel

To quickly hide columns in Excel, the efficient mouse shortcut can be used. Here’s a 4-step guide to using this mouse shortcut:

  1. First, select the column(s) you want to hide.
  2. Then, hover your mouse over any of the selected column headers.
  3. After that, right-click on a column header and select “Hide” from the context menu.
  4. Finally, the selected columns will disappear from view.

It’s important to note that this mouse shortcut does not delete or modify the data within those hidden columns.

In addition, this method is a great way to declutter your Excel sheet without permanently deleting any information.

According to Microsoft Office Support, “Hiding rows and columns is an alternative to removing them if you need to keep their contents.”

Don’t be a mousy Excel user – learn how to hide columns like a boss with these easy steps.

Steps to Hide Columns using Mouse Shortcut

If you want to master hiding columns in Excel with just a few clicks, there is a solution for you. Here are the steps to follow for using mouse shortcuts to hide columns:

  1. Open the Excel sheet and navigate to the column headers that you want to hide.
  2. Click on the column header or select multiple column headers that you wish to hide.
  3. Finally, right-click on any of the selected column headers and choose ‘Hide’ or press ‘Ctrl + 0’ shortcut key.

With these simple steps, you can efficiently use mouse shortcuts to hide columns in Excel and make your work quicker and easier.

It’s worth noting that this technique works well when dealing with lots of data on an Excel sheet and allows users to keep only necessary data visible without deleting it permanently. If you’re looking for more ways to enhance your Excel skills quickly, continue exploring other simple techniques available.

Don’t miss out on mastering this time-saving shortcut! Start by practicing with smaller tasks today and gradually scale up as per your needs. Enjoy optimizing your workflow!

Well, looks like hiding columns just got a PhD with these advanced options.

Advanced Options for Hiding Columns

Simplify hiding columns in Excel? Advanced options can be explored! Grouping columns allows toggling visibility. Custom views permit tailored display options, saved and accessed with ease. That’s the way to go!

Advanced Options for Hiding Columns-The Best Shortcut for Hiding Columns in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Joel Woodhock

Grouping Columns

When it comes to efficient excel data management, grouping similar columns is a vital task. Here’s how you can group your columns with ease.

Column 1Column 2
Data 1Data 2
Data 3Data 4

To group columns in Excel, select the range of columns you want to group and right-click on them. Choose “Group” from the options, and voila! The selected columns will be grouped into a single column.

It’s worth noting that grouped columns can be easily ungrouped by selecting the top left cell of the grouped column and right-clicking to access the “Ungroup” option.

Don’t miss out on the benefits of easy data management through column grouping. Start grouping your excel columns today! Say goodbye to unwanted columns with just a few clicks – grouping and hiding has never been easier!

Steps to Group Columns and Hide them

To effectively manage data in a table, it is crucial to group columns and hide unnecessary ones. This enables you to extract the required information quickly and with ease.

To group columns and hide them, follow these six basic steps:

  1. Select the columns that you want to group.
  2. Right-click on any column header within your selection and select Group from its dropdown menu.
  3. The grouped columns are collapsed. To expand them, click on the plus (+) icon in front of the header or right-click on any column header outside the grouping to select Expand/Collapse from its dropdown menu.
  4. To hide one or more grouped columns, select them first by clicking their headers. Right-click on any selected header(s) and choose Hide Columns from its dropdown menu.
  5. To unhide a hidden column(s), right-click on any column header outside of your selection and select Unhide Columns from its dropdown menu.
  6. The last step is saving your file so that changes persist.

It is important to note that while grouping columns does not remove data, some people might overlook important information. As such, it is essential also to label groups appropriately.

By hiding superfluous columns carefully, they become invisible but still present in case users need them later. It also declutters visual output for better interpretation when doing presentations or showing findings in reports.

Consider freeing up some screen-space during complex analysis by collapsing redundant rows or grouping the contents together as related elements share something in common – like date ranges or demographics.

Know what type of information your viewers need using filter functions before sorting data into cohesive groups under relevant headings. By employing these suggestions correctly, you can increase overall productivity and allow for better judgment-making in time-critical scenarios.

Custom Views: Because looking at the same data all day is like watching paint dry, but with Excel instead of a wall.

Custom Views

The feature that allows users to save their Excel worksheets’ configurations is referred to as a tailored preview of the document. A saved setup with certain columns displays solely those particular columns while hiding all others.

Our discussion now shifts towards how Custom Views can be utilized efficiently in managing large amounts of data. For as an instance, if we have a vast dataset containing dozens or hundreds of rows and columns, it may be beneficial to create different views for displaying specific data.

Here are some suggestions on how you can utilize the power of Custom Views effectively:

  1. Simplify your view by customizing it according to your needs.
  2. You should change and customize the column order or widths according to the size of your sheet and display requirements.
  3. Additionally, hide those unnecessary columns that aren’t adding any value or appearing cluttered in the sheet.

By employing these recommendations, each time you use a tailored view stored within the workbook, you’ll be able to have a customized perspective optimized specifically for important information disclosure.

Hide and Seek: Creating custom views in Excel to make hiding columns a breeze

Steps to Create Custom Views to Hide Columns

When you want to control what columns are visible on your screen, there are specific ways to do it. You can use advanced options for hiding columns in custom views.

Here is a five-step guide for creating such custom views:

  1. Go to the list or library and choose ‘Create View’ from the ‘Current View’ drop-down menu.
  2. Provide an appropriate name for your view in the ‘View Name’ text box
  3. Select those columns that you want to show in your view in the ‘Columns’ section
  4. Deselect the columns that should not appear on the view in the ‘Columns’ section
  5. ‘OK’ your view creation by clicking the button on the bottom of your page.

It is also convenient to know that you could apply these new settings to all documents listed under this particular view.

To make this feature more productive and worthwhile, it’s essential to understand how businesses use custom views. With easy access available, employees can work with tailor-made applications suited best for their needs.

According to a study conducted by Atlassian, workers lose approximately 30 minutes a day due to inefficient handling of data, specifically due to poor navigation between various programs and apps. Custom views help reduce these inefficiencies.

Why hide your skeletons in the closet when you can just unhide them with ease? Welcome to the world of unhiding hidden columns.

Unhiding Hidden Columns

Unhiding hidden columns? The solution is here! Keyboard and mouse shortcuts can make it happen. Alternatively, explore the advanced options. This section of the “The Best Shortcut for Hiding Columns in Excel” article has the answers. Unlock your hidden columns now!

Unhiding Hidden Columns-The Best Shortcut for Hiding Columns in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Harry Jones

Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts for Unhiding Columns

When it comes to revealing hidden columns in Excel, there are various Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts available. These shortcuts allow you to quickly reveal the hidden columns without having to go through multiple steps.

  • To unhide a single column using the keyboard shortcut, select the column on either side of the hidden column and press ‘Ctrl + Shift + 0’. The hidden column will now be visible.
  • To unhide a single column using the mouse, select the columns on either side of the hidden column, right-click your mouse and click ‘Unhide’.
  • To unhide multiple consecutive columns, select all the columns on either side of the hidden ones. Right-click your mouse and click ‘Unhide’.
  • To unhide multiple non-consecutive columns, hold down ‘Ctrl’ while selecting each column on either side of the hidden ones. Right-click with your mouse and click ‘Unhide’.

It is crucial to note that unhiding a row makes all its components visible; formulas, values, data and formatting irrespective of whether they were initially hidden or not.

Pro Tip: Familiarize yourself with Microsoft Excel’s different shortcut keys as this will make it easier for you to execute commands more efficiently.

Finally, a way to unhide columns without feeling like a secret agent trying to crack a code.

Unhiding Columns using Advanced Options

Uncovering Hidden Columns – The advanced step for unhiding columns in Excel involves a few simple clicks. Use these steps to make the previously hidden column visible again.

  1. Locate the area around the hidden column.
  2. Right-click the column heading box on either side of it.
  3. Choose ‘Column Width’ from the pop-up menu.
  4. Set the width of the hidden column to a wider value than zero.

This process is known as Uncovering Hidden Columns, and it can be completed with ease in Microsoft Excel by following four simple steps. With these practical instructions, you can confidently manage data in Excel.

It should be noted that uncovering hidden columns may also reveal any formatting changes made to that column, such as borders or shading once applied. Please proceed with caution when unhiding columns in your excel spreadsheet.

According to Microsoft’s recommendations, routinely hiding or unhiding large areas of data or multiple columns in a worksheet could potentially jeopardize file performance and slow down computer processing times, so best practice should always include making sure you need to hide specific information before doing so.

Source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/unhide-the-first-column-or-row-in-a-worksheet-d6b47608-80ee-4021-9b51-6a1f57269ec9

Unhiding grouped columns is like trying to find the missing piece of a puzzle, except the puzzle is in Excel and the missing piece is hidden in plain sight.

Unhiding Grouped Columns

Grouped Columns can be easily unhid using Advanced Options. Here’s a quick guide to help you out:

  1. Highlight the columns adjacent to the hidden columns.
  2. Right-click on any of the highlighted column headers and select ‘Unhide’ from the drop-down menu.
  3. If necessary, repeat the process until all hidden columns are visible.
  4. The previously Hidden Columns should now be visible.
  5. If you’re still facing issues, it may be because of hidden formatting within cells themselves. Go to ‘Format Cells’ and uncheck the box next to ‘Hidden’ under the Protection tab.

It is important to note that Unhiding Grouped Columns is different from Unhiding Hidden Columns in a non-grouped table. Once you’ve selected your adjacent columns as instructed above, it will automatically include any grouped-hidden columns as well.

Did you know? The feature for grouping columns was introduced in Excel 2007. Prior to this version, users had to manually select each individual column they wanted to hide in order to group them together.

Unhiding hidden columns: Because sometimes you need to let those hidden gems shine.

Unhiding Columns using Custom Views

  1. Go to the View tab in the Excel Ribbon.
  2. Click on the Custom View option in the ‘Workbook Views’ section.
  3. In the ‘Custom Views’ window, select the view you want to modify.
  4. Click on the ‘Show’ button, then choose ‘Columns’. Select all the hidden columns that you want to show.

Notably, restoring hidden columns using Custom Views option is relatively faster compared to other techniques.

Pro Tip: By grouping your selections, you can restore multiple hidden columns at once, saving you time and effort.

Unhiding columns in Excel is like bringing back the dead, but luckily, with advanced options it’s not as creepy as it sounds.

Some Facts About The Best Shortcut for Hiding Columns in Excel:

  • ✅ The shortcut for hiding columns in Excel is “Ctrl+0”. (Source: Excel Tips)
  • ✅ This shortcut is faster than using the manual method of right-clicking on the selected columns and clicking “Hide”. (Source: Excel Campus)
  • ✅ This shortcut can also be used to unhide columns by selecting the columns on either side of the hidden columns and then using the shortcut “Ctrl+Shift+0”. (Source: Ablebits)
  • ✅ The “Ctrl+0” shortcut only hides the selected columns, not the rows or entire worksheet. (Source: Excel Easy)
  • ✅ Using this shortcut regularly can save time and increase efficiency when working with large sets of data in Excel. (Source: TechTarget)

FAQs about The Best Shortcut For Hiding Columns In Excel

What is the best shortcut for hiding columns in Excel?

The best shortcut for hiding columns in Excel is to use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl” + “0”. This will quickly hide the selected column without having to right-click and select “hide”.

Can I also hide multiple columns at once using this shortcut?

Yes, you can hide multiple columns at once by selecting them all before pressing the “Ctrl” + “0” shortcut. This will hide all selected columns at the same time.

What if I want to unhide a column that I have hidden?

To unhide a column, you can use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “0”. This will unhide the previously hidden column.

Is there a way to quickly see which columns are hidden?

Yes, you can use the “Go To” function in Excel to see which columns are hidden. Press “Ctrl” + “G” and then select “Special”. From there, choose “Visible cells only” and then select “Column width” to see which columns are hidden.

Can column headers still be seen when I hide a column?

Yes, column headers will still be visible when you hide a column in Excel. This can be helpful when you want to keep track of which columns are hidden and which ones are not.

What is the benefit of using shortcuts to hide columns in Excel?

The benefit of using shortcuts to hide columns in Excel is that it can save you time and make working with large spreadsheets more efficient. It can also help you keep your work organized by quickly hiding unnecessary columns and focusing on the data that you need to see.


Auther name

Jacky Chou is an electrical engineer turned marketer. He is the founder of IndexsyFar & AwayLaurel & Wolf, a couple of FBA businesses, and about 40 affiliate sites. He is a proud native of Vancouver, BC, who has been featured on Entrepreneur.comForbesOberlo, and GoDaddy.