Robiul Hossain
In some situations, you may want to hide one or more columns in an Excel worksheet. Obviously, Excel allows users to easily hide columns. You might want to display or print a worksheet in such a way that some of the data is hidden, but not deleted from the workbook. Similarly, you may wish to hide unused or unimportant columns to keep your users focused on the relevant information. Once a column is hidden, it will not be shown on the display or printed worksheet.
In this article, you will learn 4 simple methods to hide columns in Excel with vivid illustrations.
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4 Simple Methods to Hide Columns in Excel
To demonstrate the article, we will use the following dataset.
There can be 3 combinations of columns we can hide in Excel. These are as follows:
1. Single Column
2. Multiple Adjacent Columns
3. Multiple Non-Adjacent Columns
We can hide any single or multiple columns in Excel. Multiple columns can be both adjacent or non-adjacent. Sometimes it seems necessary to hide some multiple non-adjacent columns. Hiding multiple columns that are not next to one another may become crucial to visualize the remaining data more effectively.
In the following sections, we will learn how to hide all such combinations of columns using some quick and effective techniques.
1. Quickest Method: Keyboard Shortcut to Hide Columns in Excel
We can easily hide a single or some multiple columns using keyboard shortcut Ctrl+0. This is the quickest method to hide columns in Excel.
1.1 Hide Single Column
Let’s say, we want to hide the sales amount of January.
Steps:
- Select the entire column by clicking on top of Column C(January).
- Press and hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard.
- Now, press the 0 (zero) key without releasing the Ctrl key. Column C disappeared from view.
Read More: How to Hide Rows and Columns in Excel (10 Ways)
1.2 Hide Multiple Adjacent Columns
To hide multiple adjacent columns of sales data from January to March, follow the steps below.
Steps:
- First, we have to Select the first column (C column that shows sales of January) by clicking on the column letter.
- Press & hold the Shift > Select Column E (that shows sales data of March).
- Press and hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard.
- Now, press the 0 (zero) key without releasing the Ctrl key. The columns don’t appear in the view now.
Read More: How to Select Every Other Column in Excel (3 Methods)
1.3 Hide Multiple Non-adjacent Columns
For our dataset, let’s say, we want to see the sales data of all even months i.e. February, April, and June. To do this, we must hide the sales data of all the remaining months i.e. January, March, and May. Carefully go through the following steps.
Steps:
- First, Select the January column(Column C) by clicking on the column letter.
- Then, press & hold the Ctrl key > Select Column E and Column G by clicking on the column letters.
- Press & hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard.
- Now, press the 0(zero) key without releasing the Ctrl key. The columns disappeared from view.
Read More: How to Hide Selected Columns in Excel (5 Easy Methods)
2. Hide Single or Multiple Columns with Excel Hide Command
Hide command is a simple way to hide columns in Excel.
2.1 Hide Single Column
Let’s say, we want to hide the sales amount of January.
Steps:
- Select Column C(January) by clicking on the column letter.
- Right-click the selected columns, and then select Hide from the Context Menu.
You can see that Column C disappeared.
Read More: How to Hide Columns with Button in Excel (4 Suitable Methods)
2.2 Hide Multiple Adjacent Columns
To hide multiple adjacent columns of sales data from January to March, follow the steps below.
Steps:
- First, we have to select the first column (Column C– January) by clicking on top of it.
- Then press and hold the Shift > select Column E.
- Right-click on the selected columns, and then select Hide from the Context Menu.
You can see the columns are hidden from view.
Read More: Excel Hide Columns Based on Cell Value without Macro
2.3 Hide Multiple Non-Adjacent Columns
For our dataset, let’s say, we want to see the sales data of all even months i.e. February, April, and June. To do this, we must hide the sales data of all the remaining months i.e. January, March, and May. Carefully go through the following steps.
Steps:
- First, select Column C(January) by clicking on the top of it.
- Then, press & hold the Ctrl key > Select Column E and Column G by clicking on the column letters.
- Right-click on the selected columns, and then select Hide from the Context Menu.
You can see the columns are hidden now.
Similar Readings
- How to Group Columns in Excel (5 Easy Methods)
- Excel Hide Columns with No Data (4 Effective Ways)
- Lock Columns in Excel (4 Methods)
- How to Freeze Columns in Excel (5 Methods)
- Excel VBA: Hide Columns Based on Cell Value (15 Examples)
3. Hide Single or Multiple Columns with Group Command from the Data Tab
Group command is used to visually group columns or rows to monitor them in a concise & organized manner under one heading.
3.1 Hide Single Column
Let’s say, we want to hide the sales amount of January.
Steps:
- Select the entire column by clicking on top of Column C(January).
- On the Data tab > Outline group > Group > Group.
Column C is grouped.
- To hide the column, click the minus sign. Column C disappeared.
3.2 Hide Multiple Adjacent Columns
To hide multiple adjacent columns of sales data from January to March, follow the steps below.
Steps:
- First, we have to select the first column (Column C – January) by clicking on top of it.
- Then press and hold the Shift > select Column E.
- On the Data tab > Outline group > Group > Group.
The Columns became grouped.
- To hide the column, click the minus sign. The Columns disappear from view.
Note:
The Group command can’t be used to hide multiple non-adjacent columns.
Read More: How to Hide Columns in Excel with Minus or Plus Sign (2 Quick Ways)
4. Hide Columns Using the Excel Name Box
Using the Name Box is another simple way of hiding columns in Excel.
4.1 Hide Single Column
Let’s say, we want to hide the sales amount of January.
Steps:
- Type the Cell Reference C1(that contains January Data) or any other cell in Column C into the Name Box.
The C1 Cell is selected.
- On the Home tab > Cells Group > Format > Hide & Unhide > Hide Columns.
You can see that Column C disappeared.
Read More: How to Hide and Unhide Columns in Excel (7 Quick Methods)
4.2 Hide Multiple Adjacent Columns
To hide multiple adjacent columns of sales data from January to March, follow the steps below.
Steps:
- Type the Cell References C1, D1, and E1 (that contains data of corresponding month) or any other cells on the corresponding columns into the Name Box.
We can see the C1, D1, and E1 Cells are selected.
- On the Home tab > Cells Group > Format > Hide & Unhide > Hide Columns.
You can see the Column C, Column D & Column E are hidden.
4.3 Hide Multiple Non-adjacent Columns
For our dataset, let’s say, we want to see the sales data of all even months i.e. February, April, and June. To do this, we must hide the sales data of all the remaining months i.e. January, March, and May. Carefully go through the following steps.
Steps:
- Type the Cell References C1, E1, and G1(that contains data of the corresponding month) into the Name Box.
You can see the C1, E1 and G1 Cells are selected.
- On the Home tab > Cells Group > Format > Hide & Unhide > Hide Columns.
You can see that Column C, Column E and Column G are hidden.
How to Unhide Columns in Excel (2 Quick ways)
1. Unhide Columns by Double Clicking the Hidden Column Line
Let’s say, we have to unhide Column C.
Steps:
- Double click on the Hidden Column line.
You can see Column C now.
Read More: How to Unhide Columns in Excel (8 Methods)
2. Unhide Columns with Simple Unhide Command
Let’s say, we want to unhide the sales amount of January.
Steps:
- Select both columns on either side of Column C(January).
- Right-click the selected columns, and then select Unhide from the Context Menu.
Now, you can see Column C.
Read More: Hide or Unhide Columns Based on Drop Down List Selection in Excel
Hide Columns in Excel: Knowledge Hub
- Hide and Unhide Columns
- Hide Selected Columns
- Hide Multiple Columns
- Hide Unused Columns
- Hide Extra Columns
- Hide Columns with No Data
- Hide Columns with Button
- Hide Columns Without Right-Click
- Collapse Columns
- Group and Hide Columns
- Hide Columns Based on Cell Value Without Macro
- Hide Columns Based on Cell Value Using VBA
- Hide Columns Based on Criteria with VBA
- Hide Columns Using Column Number with VBA
- Hide Columns with Password
- Unhide Columns All at Once
- Unhide All Columns with VBA
- [Fixed!] Unhide Columns Not Working in Excel
- [Fixed!] Unhide Columns Shortcut Not Working
Conclusion
In this article, we described 4 simple methods of How to Hide Columns in Excel. Please have a look at our website ExcelDemy.com. Let us know if you face any problems in the comment box. There is a practice workbook added. Go ahead and give it a try.
Further Readings
- How to Swap Columns in Excel (5 Methods)
- Group and Ungroup Columns or Rows in Excel
- How to Add Columns in Excel (5 Quick Ways)
- Excel VBA to Hide Columns Using Column Number (6 Examples)
- How to Unhide Columns in Excel All at Once (4 Quick Ways)
- Excel VBA to Hide Columns Based on Criteria (6 Useful Examples)
- Unhide Columns in Excel Shortcut Not Working (6 Solutions)
