Tired of trying to delete unnecessary columns in your dataset, but you couldn’t? Well, maybe your workbook has some common issues for which deletion is not working. But don’t worry, we are here to save you! This article will show some common reasons and will give three smart solutions to fix the problem when you can’t delete extra columns in Excel.
Can’t Delete Extra Columns in Excel: 3 Reasons and Solutions
To show the reasons and solutions, we’ll use the following dataset that represents some salespersons’ sales in different regions.
1. Make the Extra Columns Disappeared If You Can’t Delete Extra Columns in Excel
You cannot delete permanently the empty columns after the last columns in your dataset. Excel only removes contents from rows and columns. It never deletes them permanently.
Look that I have deleted column E and go forward to the next image to see what happens.
The column still exists.
Solution:
So, you can hide all the extra columns from your sheet and it will look like the columns are deleted. At least they will not be visible anymore!
- Select the first extra empty column by clicking the column number.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Right arrow key to select the last column- 16,384th column of Excel.
- After that, right-click on any column.
- Select Hide from the Context Menu.
Soon after, you will get all the extra columns hidden and look like deleted.
Read More: How to Delete Multiple Columns in Excel with Condition
2. Identify Space Characters and Delete Extra Columns in Excel
If your dataset has space characters in cells in one of its columns, it will look like a blank column.
In this dataset, we have an empty column.
First, let’s check if it is really empty or not.
- Select the column D.
- Go to Home > Editing > Find & Select > Go To Special.
- Mark Blanks from the Go To Special dialog box and press OK.
Have a look that one cell that is showing as non-blank that seems blank.
The reason is there is space character(s) in this cell.
So if you use a tool to select all the extra empty columns in your dataset then that row won’t be selected. So what’s the solution?
Solution:
- Select the whole dataset.
- Press Ctrl + H to open the Find and Replace dialog box.
- Type space in the Find what box and keep the Replace with box empty.
- Finally, press Replace All.
Excel has removed the spaces and will give you a pop-up message about the result.
Now you will be able to detect all the extra empty columns in your dataset and delete them.
3. Unprotect Sheet in Excel If You Can’t Delete Extra Columns
Another common reason is- maybe your sheet is protected with a password and you have forgotten to unprotect it before deleting extra columns. So if you try to delete columns, the delete option with many other options will remain faded which indicates that you can’t use them.
Solution:
Let’s see how to unprotect the sheet.
- Go to Home > Cells > Format > Unprotect Sheet.
- Enter the password and press OK.
- Select the extra empty column in the worksheet.
- Select column D > Right-click > Select Delete from the context menu.
Yes! it’s deleted successfully.
Read More: Â How to Delete Infinite Columns in Excel
Download Practice Workbook
Conclusion
I hope the procedures described above will be good enough to fix the problem when you can’t delete extra columns in Excel. Feel free to ask any question in the comment section and please give me feedback.
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