Is something just… missing from your spreadsheet? Maybe it’s a hidden column! Here’s a guide on how to unhide columns in Excel.
Hidden columns are useful if the spreadsheet is becoming a bit messy. Sometimes, spreadsheet creators will hide columns to make the file more readable. The problem is that if you aren’t familiar with the file, you might miss out on the important details that you need to know.
Let’s learn how to find and unhide columns in Excel.
How to Spot Hidden Columns in Excel
So, how do you know if you have hidden columns? If you know the alphabet, you can spot a hidden column. It will show up as a missing letter when reviewing the spreadsheet’s column labels.
At the top of Excel’s grid, keep an eye out for non-consecutive letters in the spreadsheet. In the example below, you can see that column C isn’t visible, and in its place is a thick double line. This shows that you might need to unhide columns in Excel.
How to Unhide Columns in Excel
Ready to unhide and reveal the secret of the spreadsheet? It’s simple to unhide columns in Excel.
Check out the example below. All you have to do is highlight the columns surrounding the hidden column, and then right-click. Choose Unhide. Presto! You can now see your hidden column, restored into view.
How to Unhide Every Column
What if your spreadsheet has many hidden columns? Or, maybe you don’t have time reciting the alphabet while scanning for missing columns? Let’s learn how to unhide all columns without checking each column one-by-one.
Start by clicking the arrow in the upper-left corner of Excel’s grid. This selects all rows and columns across the entire spreadsheet.
Then, use this keyboard shortcut to unhide all columns:
Ctrl + Shift + 9
Now, all of your columns are back in view.
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