[Fixed!] Excel Sheet Tabs Hidden behind Taskbar (6 Solutions)

Excel workbooks often have multiple worksheets, and it is essential to see the sheet tabs to switch between them. If the sheet tabs are hidden behind the taskbar, it can cause issues.

In this Excel tutorial, you will learn the possible reasons for and solutions to sheet tabs hidden behind the taskbar.

In the image below, you can see the sheet tabs are hidden, and after resolving, they appear again.

6 Solutions for Excel Sheet Tabs Hidden Behind Taskbar

Solution 1: Maximizing Excel Window

One of the common reasons sheet tabs are hidden behind the taskbar is the Excel window not being in maximum size. In the following image, you can see that the sheet tabs are behind the taskbar.

To make sheet tabs visible that are hidden behind the taskbar, press the Maximize icon in the upper-right corner of your Excel window.

As a result, you’ll get to see all the sheet tabs, as shown below.

Solution 2: Resolving with Excel File Options

However, due to specific undesired changes in the Excel Options, we may not see the sheet tabs in our window.

Follow the steps to show hidden sheet tabs using the File tab:

1. Go to the File tab > select Options.
   
2. In the Excel Options dialog box, press the Advanced tab.
3. Check the box for Show sheet tabs under the Display options for this workbook section.
4. Press OK.

Lastly, returning to the Excel window you can see the sheet tabs appeared.

Solution 3: Adjusting Horizontal Bar Size in Excel Status Bar

If the horizontal bar next to the sheet tabs is extended and not resized back, it can block the view of the sheet tabs like the image below.

But the adjustment of the bar size is very easy. We just have to drag the bar boundary to our liking.

To show hidden sheet tabs by adjusting the bar, drag the left-side boundary of the horizontal bar at the bottom right side of the screen.

Solution 4: Sorting out with Format Drop-Down

There can be cases where a single sheet tab or multiple sheet tabs are absent. It happens when we accidentally hide a sheet.

Follow the steps below to show hidden sheet tabs using the Format option:

1. Go to Home tab > Cells section > select Format drop-down > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Sheet.
2. Select the desired sheet in the Unhide dialog box > click OK.
   

In the end, you’ll see all your sheets in the sheet tabs.

Solution 5: Using VBA Macro

To show hidden sheet tabs using VBA follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Developer tab > Visual Basic from Code group.
2. Select Module from the Insert tab in the VBA window.
3. Paste the following VBA code into the Module.

   Sub DisplayHiddenTab()
   ActiveWindow.DisplayWorkbookTabs = True
   End Sub

4. Save the code.
5. Press the play button or F5 to run the code.

Lastly, you can see the hidden tabs in Excel.

Solution 6: Updating Microsoft Excel

If you are unable to see the sheet tab in Microsoft Excel, it is recommended that you update your software. The version you are currently using may have an underlying issue causing the sheet tab to get hidden behind the taskbar.

To update Excel to make hidden sheet tabs visible, follow the steps below:

1. Open Microsoft Excel and access the File tab.
2. Go to Accounts.
3. Click on Update Options and select either Update Now or Enable Updates.
4. After the update is complete, relaunch Excel and check if you can access your worksheets.

Download Practice Workbook

Download the following workbook to practice by yourself.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned why sheet tabs are hidden behind the taskbar and how to make them visible again. There are six different ways to unhide the hidden tabs. You can do this by maximizing the Excel window, adjusting the horizontal bar, using VBA code, updating Microsoft Excel, or using the Format and Advanced display options. Depending on your needs, you can follow any of these ways to show hidden sheet tabs in Excel. If you have any comments, suggestions, or queries, please do not forget to leave them in the comment section below.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the hidden toolbar back in Excel?

To see the hidden ribbon, double-click any ribbon tab, or press CTRL + F1.

Are there any external applications or add-ons that could influence the hiding of sheet tabs in Excel?

External apps or add-ins in Excel could hide sheet tabs. Temporarily disable them to check if they are causing the problem.

Related Articles

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• How to Create Tabs Within Tabs in Excel
• How to Group Tabs Under a Master Tab in Excel
• How to Change Worksheet Tab Color in Excel
• How to Put Excel Tabs on Top of Worksheet
• How to Unhide Sheet Tab in Excel

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