How to Hide Rows in Excel | Easy Shortcuts

How to hide rows in Excel: Simply select the row(s), right-click, and choose Hide—or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + 9 on Windows and Ubuntu, or Cmd + 9 on macOS. 📉 Hiding rows helps you organize large spreadsheets, remove distractions, and keep sensitive data out of sight without deleting anything. Whether you’re working on reports, dashboards, or shared files, this trick saves time and keeps things neat. ✨

🧠 Why Hide Rows in Excel?

Hiding rows in Excel is perfect for:

Temporarily removing non-essential data 🧹
Hiding sensitive or internal information 🔐
Presenting clean dashboards or reports
Focusing attention on key metrics
Making massive spreadsheets easier to manage

Bonus: Hidden rows can be easily restored—no data lost!

🧭 How to Hide Rows in Excel (Mouse Method)

If you prefer the manual approach:

Select the row(s) you want to hide (click row numbers like 5, 6, 7)
Right-click the selection
Click Hide ✅

The rows will disappear from view—but don’t worry, they’re still there!

⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts to Hide Rows

Action	Windows	macOS	Ubuntu (LibreOffice Calc)
Hide Row	`Ctrl + 9`	`Cmd + 9`	`Ctrl + 9`
Unhide Row	`Ctrl + Shift + 9`	`Cmd + Shift + 9`	`Ctrl + Shift + 9`

These shortcuts are super handy for quick formatting, especially in big files.

🔓 How to Unhide Rows in Excel

Accidentally hid something important? Here’s how to get it back:

Select the rows above and below the hidden ones
Right-click → Click Unhide

Example: If row 7 is hidden, select rows 6 and 8, then unhide.

💡 Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + 9 (Windows/Ubuntu) or Cmd + Shift + 9 (macOS)

🧩 Hide Multiple Rows at Once

Adjacent Rows:

Click and drag to select rows (e.g., 10–20)
Right-click → Hide

Non-Adjacent Rows:

Hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac), click multiple row numbers
Right-click → Hide

🎨 Use Case Scenarios

Scenario	Should You Hide Rows?
Hide raw data in a report	✅ Yes
Skip alternate rows for printing	✅ Yes
Protect internal notes or costs	✅ Perfect use
Simplify a template view	✅ Recommended
Permanently remove rows	❌ Use Delete instead

🔒 Bonus: Protect Hidden Rows

Want to hide and protect sensitive data?

Hide the rows
Go to Review > Protect Sheet
Set a password and choose protection options

🔐 This ensures no one can unhide them without your permission.

🖨️ Hiding Rows Before Printing

To make a spreadsheet printer-friendly:

Hide unnecessary rows
Adjust print area: Page Layout > Print Area > Set Print Area
Preview: Ctrl + P (or Cmd + P) before final print

Your printout will be clean and focused 📄

🐧 How to Hide Rows in Ubuntu (LibreOffice Calc)

LibreOffice Calc users, you’re covered too!

Steps:

Select row(s)
Right-click → Hide Row
To unhide, select adjacent rows → Right-click → Show Row

Shortcut:

Hide: Ctrl + 9
Unhide: Ctrl + Shift + 9

Also accessible from:
Format > Row > Hide

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting which rows were hidden — use row number gaps as a clue
Trying to hide part of a merged cell row — might not work properly
Not unprotecting the sheet before trying to unhide
Assuming hidden = secure — it’s not unless protected

FAQs

How do I hide multiple rows in Excel at once?
Select the rows (click and drag or Ctrl/Cmd + click), then right-click → Hide.

Can I undo a hide action?
Yes! Press Ctrl + Z or use Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + 9 to unhide.

Are hidden rows included in formulas?
Yes. Excel still uses the hidden rows in calculations.

Will hidden rows print?
No, hidden rows are excluded from printing.

Is there a limit to how many rows I can hide?
No, you can hide as many as needed—even thousands!

Does Google Sheets support row hiding?
Yes! Right-click the row number → Hide row.

✅ Final Thoughts on How to Hide Rows in Excel

Mastering how to hide rows in Excel is a simple way to level up your spreadsheet game. 🧠 Whether you’re cleaning data, preparing a sleek report, or securing sensitive info, hiding rows keeps your file clean and manageable—without deleting a thing. 💼

Remember your shortcuts (Ctrl/Cmd + 9 to hide, Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + 9 to unhide) and you’ll be organizing your sheets like a pro in no time. 📈🔥

Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.

https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/

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