Unhide columns, rows and sheet in Excel

In the first section, I will show you with screen shots, how to unhide the column(s) in Excel. This is followed by the section to unhide rows and finally, you can see how to unhide a sheet.

 

An animated gif showing the demo of how to unhide the hidden row and column in Excel by using different ways.

  • After hiding the column(s), row(s), or sheet (as explained in the hide columns/rows tutorial), if you want to unhide those; this is also simple and the topic of this tutorial.
  • In the first section, I will show you with screenshots, how to unhide the column(s) in Excel.
  • This is followed by the section to unhide rows and finally, you can see how to unhide a sheet.
  • Depending on the need, you may scroll to the desired section directly.

First way: Unhide a hidden column by right click example

The first way to unhide the hidden column is by using the right-click option.

To demonstrate that, I have hidden column D for the demo as shown in the graphic below:

Excel hide D col

To unhide the single column D by using right click, follow this:

Single Step:

In our example, we have C and E adjacent columns that are visible while D is hidden. To unhide the column D:

Select C & E columns.

Right-click on either C or E column and press the “Unhide” option in the menu:

Excel unhide

This should unhide the column D.

Second way: Unhide by double line example

If you look closely at the column lines after hiding a column, you will notice those are double lines and looks a little thicker than normal columns. See the image below:

Excel unhide double line

You may also unhide the hidden column by double-clicking the double line or dragging the line towards the right. (See top Gif demo for this)

Third way: Using the Home menu in the ribbon

If you are comfortable using the ribbon for performing tasks rather than using the contextual menu (right-click) then this is how you may unhide the hidden columns.

Step 1:

Go to the “Home” tab in the ribbon.

Step 2:

Under the “Cells” group, locate the “Format” button and press the small arrow to open its menu.

Step 3:

Under the “Visibility” heading in the "Format" button’s menu, click the “Unhide Columns” option as shown in the graphic below

Excel unhide home tab

Fourth Way – Using the shortcut key to unhide all columns

To unhide column(s) by a single action, you may unhide one or all hidden columns.

This is by using the shortcut keys to unhide the column.

To unhide all hidden columns, first select the whole sheet by pressing Ctrl+ A and then use this short key:

Alt
H
O
U
L

 

(Press the above keys one by one.)

How to unhide a row example

The process of unhiding the hidden row is almost the same as unhiding the column.

To unhide the rows, I again assumed that you know how to hide the rows and columns. Just in case, you need to learn, here is the link to its tutorial: Hide the columns and rows in Excel.

For the example, I hid the row number six as shown below:

Excel unhide row

You may clearly notice a thick line between rows number 5 and 7 as compared to the line between other rows. This indicates the hidden row.

To unhide row number six, the following ways can be used.

First way – In the ribbon

Step 1

After selecting the row number 5 or 7,

Step 2

Go to the “Home” tab in the ribbon.

Step 3

Find the Cells group --> Format --> Visibility

Step 4

Under the Visibility heading, expand the “Hide & Unhide” menu and press the “Unhide Rows” option as shown below:

Excel unhide row home

Second Way – Using the double line

As mentioned earlier, you may notice the comparatively thick line between rows 5 and 7. This is the sign of a hidden row. The line between other visible rows is thin.

To unhide row number six (in our example), double-click the lower side of the line that is above row number 7. This should unhide row number 6.

Alternatively, you may drag the same line by mouse and expand the row number 6 - as shown below.

excel unhide row demo

Third way – Using the right click option

After hiding the required rows, select the adjacent row.

For example, I hid the row number 6. For unhiding row number 6, select row number 5 or 7 and right-click on any of its cells.

Now, click on the “Unhide” option in the menu as shown below:

Excel unhide row right click

Fourth Way – Using the short key to unhide all rows

After selecting all cells; either by clicking on the triangle located at the top left of the sheet or press the Ctrl + A, use the following short key to unhide one or all rows:

Alt
H
O
U
O

 

Press the above keys one by one. You do not need to hold down the Alt key as pressing other keys.

How to unhide a worksheet?

Just to remind those who do not know, for hiding a sheet, you may use two simple ways for this – also explained in the above section.

The first way of hiding a sheet:

Right click any of the sheets that you want to hide and press the “Hide” option in the menu:

Excel hide sheet

This should hide the second sheet.

Second way – use the ribbon

Step 1

Go to the “Home” tab in the ribbon.

Step 2

Locate the “Format” button under the “Cells” group and open its menu

Step 3

Under the Visibility heading, open the “Hide & Unhide” menu

Step 4

Click on the “Hide Sheet” option.

Excel hide sheet home

Unhiding the hidden sheet(s)

To unhide the hidden sheet(s), again you may use these two options for hiding the sheet.

By right-clicking

Step 1

Right click on the worksheet area and press the “Unhide” option.

Excel unhide sheet

This should open the pop-up asking which sheet to unhide.

Step 2

Select the one that you want to unhide (if hidden more than one).

Excel unhide popup

Step 3

Press the OK button.

By Home tab

Step 1

Just like hiding a sheet, go to the Home tab in the ribbon.

Step 2

Locate the “Format” button under the “Cells” group and open its menu.

Step 3

Under the Visibility heading, open the “Hide & Unhide” menu and click on the “Unhide Sheet” option.

There, the popup should open asking which sheet to unhide.

Step 4

Select the one and press OK.