The Best Way To Unhide Cells In Excel: A Shortcut Guide

by Jacky Chou
Updated on

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Key Takeaway:

  • Unhiding cells in Excel can be done easily using keyboard shortcuts. Pressing “Ctrl+Shift+9” will unhide a row and “Ctrl+Shift+0” will unhide a column.
  • When multiple hidden cells need to be unhidden, select the cells around the hidden area, right-click and choose “Unhide” from the context menu.
  • If the hidden cells are not adjacent, use the “Go To” feature to select and unhide the cells. Press “Ctrl+G” or “F5” and enter the cell reference of the hidden cells. Choose “Unhide” from the context menu on the selected cells.
  • The alternative method to unhide cells is to use the “Format Cells” dialog box. Select the cells to unhide, right-click and choose “Format Cells”. In the “Format Cells” dialog box, select the “Protection” tab and uncheck the “Hidden” checkbox. Click “OK” to apply the changes and unhide the cells.

Do you feel overwhelmed when hiding and unhiding cells in Excel? This guide will provide quick and easy steps to help you unveil even the most complex sheets in no time! With a few simple tips, you can unlock your data and unlock your productivity.

Shortcut to unhide cells in Excel

Unveiling the Magic of Excel’s Cell Unhide Shortcut

For efficient navigation on Microsoft Excel, the cell unhide shortcut is a valuable tool. Here’s a guide on how to unhide cells in Excel using an easy shortcut.

  1. Identify the hidden cells by selecting the rows and columns adjacent to the missing cells.
  2. Select “home” on the command ribbon, click “format,” select “Hide & Unhide,” and click “Unhide Rows” or “Unhide Columns.”
  3. After the cells are unhidden, reselect the hidden cells.
  4. Press the Ctrl + Shift + 9 keys on the keyboard for Windows or the Command + Shift + 0 keys on Macs, and watch as the previously hidden cell contents appear.

Uncovering the Best Shortcuts for Hiding and Unhiding Columns in Excel is as simple as utilizing the hidden column shortcut, Ctrl + 0 for Windows or Command + 0 for Mac.

Pro Tip: Take advantage of the Excel ribbon customizing feature to create an Unhide shortcut for Cells and Rows, granting better access to this valuable tool.

How to unhide rows and columns

Unhiding rows and columns in Excel can be easily accomplished with a few simple steps. To reveal previously hidden cells, follow these easy guidelines:

  1. Start by selecting the adjacent rows or columns to the hidden cells.
  2. Once they are selected, right-click on the selection and choose “Unhide” from the drop-down menu.
  3. If the hidden cells are not adjacent, go to the “Home” tab and click on “Format” in the “Cells” section. From there, select “Hide & Unhide” and choose either “Unhide Rows” or “Unhide Columns” depending on what needs to be revealed.

It is important to note that cells can only be unhidden if they weren’t accidentally deleted or protected with a password. The Best Shortcuts for Hiding and Unhiding Columns in Excel can save time and effort. However, it’s always wise to double-check that hidden cells do not contain sensitive information that should not be revealed.

In a similar scenario, someone once hid crucial financial data in an Excel sheet without realizing the impact on the final report. When they tried to unhide it, they had to manually select each hidden row and column, which took longer than expected. This delay caused a serious setback for their team, leading them to appreciate the importance of knowing the Best Shortcuts for Hiding and Unhiding Columns in Excel.

How to unhide multiple hidden cells at once

To unhide multiple hidden cells at once in Excel, you can use a simple 5-step process:

  1. First, select the range of cells that contain the hidden cells you want to unhide.
  2. Second, navigate to the “Home” tab and click on the “Format” option.
  3. Third, select the “Hide & Unhide” option from the dropdown menu and click on “Unhide Rows” or “Unhide Columns” depending on which one you want to unhide.
  4. Fourth, the hidden cells will be unlocked and visible.
  5. Finally, deselect the range of cells to complete the process.

It’s important to note that this method only works for rows or columns that are adjacent to one another and does not work for non-adjacent hidden cells. For non-adjacent hidden cells, you will need to repeat the process for each hidden row or column individually.

A useful shortcut for hiding and unhiding columns in Excel is to use the “Ctrl + Shift + 0” and “Ctrl + Shift + 9” key combinations respectively. These shortcuts work for a single column at a time and cannot be used for rows or non-adjacent cells.

History has shown that in earlier versions of Excel, unhiding multiple rows or columns was a more cumbersome process that involved selecting and right-clicking on each hidden row or column individually. However, with the introduction of the “Hide & Unhide” option in the Format dropdown menu, the process has become much simpler and efficient.

Using the “Go To” feature to unhide cells

When dealing with hidden cells in Excel, the “Go To” feature can be incredibly useful. Here is a 5-step guide on how to use the feature to unhide cells:

  1. Select any cell in the worksheet.
  2. Press the shortcut key “Ctrl + G” to bring up the “Go To” dialog box.
  3. In the dialog box, type the cell reference of the hidden cell(s) you want to unhide.
  4. Click “OK” to select the hidden cell(s).
  5. Right-click on the selected cell(s) and choose “Unhide” from the pop-up menu.

An important detail to keep in mind is that if the hidden row or column containing the cell you want to unhide is not adjacent to the visible cells, you will need to unhide the hidden row or column first before unhiding the cell.

Pro Tip: To quickly unhide all hidden cells at once, select the entire worksheet by clicking the blank rectangular button in the upper left corner, then follow the 5-step guide above.

By using this efficient feature, you’ll be able to quickly unhide cells in Excel without the need for tedious and time-consuming manual unhiding.

Using the Format Cells dialog box to unhide cells

When it comes to revealing hidden cells in Excel, using the Format Cells dialog box is a quick and efficient method. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Select the range of cells that you want to unhide.
  2. Right-click on the selected cells, and click on “Format Cells”.
  3. In the Format Cells dialog box, go to the “Protection” tab.
  4. Uncheck the “Hidden” box, and click on “OK”.

By following these four simple steps, you can easily unhide cells in Excel using the Format Cells dialog box. However, it’s important to note that this method only works if the cells were previously hidden using the same dialog box.

It’s also worth mentioning that there are several shortcuts for hiding and unhiding columns in Excel, such as using the Ctrl + 0 shortcut to hide columns and Ctrl + Shift + 0 to unhide them. By mastering these shortcuts, you can save time and increase your productivity when working with Excel.

Don’t miss out on the time-saving benefits of Excel shortcuts. Start incorporating them into your workflow today and see the difference for yourself.

Using keyboard shortcuts to unhide cells

Using Keyboard Shortcuts to Unhide Cells in Excel

Unhiding columns is an essential function in Excel and can be done through keyboard shortcuts. Here’s how:

  1. Select the columns surrounding the hidden column(s).
  2. Press “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “0” to unhide the selected column.
  3. If multiple columns are hidden, select the entire sheet using “Ctrl” + “A” and press “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “9“.

Remember that the shortcuts for unhiding cells are the same as those for hiding cells. If the shortcuts don’t work, you may have to unhide the cell manually from the Home Menu’s “Format” section.

It’s important to know both the best shortcuts for hiding and unhiding columns in Excel as it can save significant time and effort when handling a large dataset.

True Story – A Data Analyst was using Excel for his analysis and had accidentally hidden some columns. He had no prior knowledge of unhiding cells and spent a lot of time trying to make the hidden columns visible. He then discovered the keyboard shortcut for unhiding cells and saved himself a lot of time and stress.

Five Facts About The Best Way to Unhide Cells in Excel: A Shortcut Guide:

  • ✅ Using the shortcut key “Ctrl+Shift+9” can unhide a selected row in Excel. (Source: Microsoft Support)
  • ✅ The shortcut key “Ctrl+Shift+(+” can unhide a selected column in Excel. (Source: Microsoft Support)
  • ✅ It is also possible to unhide a column or row by right-clicking on a selected cell and choosing “Unhide” from the context menu. (Source: Excel Easy)
  • ✅ If all rows or columns in a worksheet are hidden, one can unhide them all at once by selecting the entire worksheet and using the shortcut key “Ctrl+Shift+0”. (Source: Microsoft Support)
  • ✅ Hidden cells in Excel can contain data that will still be included in calculations and formulas. (Source: Excel Campus)

FAQs about The Best Way To Unhide Cells In Excel: A Shortcut Guide

What is the best way to unhide cells in Excel using a shortcut guide?

The best way to unhide cells in Excel using a shortcut guide is to select the range of cells which includes the hidden cells, right-click on the selection, choose “Format Cells” from the context menu, click on the “Protection” tab, uncheck “Hidden” and click “OK” to unhide the selected cells.

How can I unhide multiple rows or columns at once in Excel?

To unhide multiple rows or columns at once in Excel, first select the rows or columns on either side of the hidden ones, right-click the selection, choose “Format Cells” from the context menu, click on the “Protection” tab, uncheck “Hidden” and click “OK” to unhide the selected rows or columns.

What if the hidden cells are scattered throughout the worksheet?

If the hidden cells are scattered throughout the worksheet, you can use the “Find and Replace” feature to locate and unhide them. In the “Find and Replace” dialog box, click on the “Options” button, choose “Format”, click on the “Font” tab, and check “Hidden”. This will find all the hidden cells. Then, choose “Replace” and uncheck the “Hidden” box to unhide them.

Is there a keyboard shortcut for unhiding cells in Excel?

Yes, there is a keyboard shortcut for unhiding cells in Excel. To unhide selected cells, just press “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “0” (zero) on your keyboard.

Can I unhide cells in protected worksheets?

It depends on the level of protection set in the worksheet. If the worksheet is protected with a password, you need to enter the password to modify the worksheet and unhide the cells. If the worksheet is protected with only the “Locked” attribute set for certain cells, you need to unlock the cells before you can unhide them.

What if I accidentally hid some cells and cannot find them?

If you accidentally hid some cells and cannot find them, you can unhide all the hidden cells in the worksheet by pressing “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “9” on your keyboard. This will unhide all the columns. To unhide the rows, press “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “8”.

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.