- Unhiding rows with a right-click
- Bringing back every hidden row on the sheet
- When Unhide does nothing: filters and groups
- Why rows 1 or 2 seem impossible to unhide
- Hiding rows again when you're done
- Checking the numbers once everything's visible
- Unhiding rows on a shared or protected sheet
- What I'd do
- Frequently asked questions
To unhide rows in Excel, select the rows either side of the hidden ones, right-click the selection and choose Unhide. You can also double-click the double line between the row numbers where the rows are hidden, or press Ctrl+A to select the whole sheet and unhide everything at once.
You open a stock sheet someone else built and the row numbers jump from 4 to 9. Rows 5 to 8 are hidden, and you need what's in them. Unhiding takes seconds once you know where to click, but there are three different reasons rows disappear in Excel, and each one comes back a different way. I'll start with plain hidden rows, then cover filters and groups, because that's usually why the obvious fix doesn't work.
Unhiding rows with a right-click
- Look for the gap in the row numbers on the left. Microsoft says a double line between two row numbers is the sign that rows are hidden there.
- Click the row number just above the gap, then hold Shift and click the row number just below it, so both neighbours are selected.
- Right-click the selection.
- Choose Unhide.
The hidden rows reappear between the two you selected. If you prefer the mouse, Microsoft also says you can double-click the double line between the row numbers to bring them back.
Bringing back every hidden row on the sheet
If a sheet has rows hidden all over the place, don't hunt for each gap. Press Ctrl+A (once or twice, until the whole sheet is selected), right-click any row number and choose Unhide. Everything that was hidden with the Hide command comes back in one go.
| Why the rows are missing | What you'll see | How to bring them back |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden with Hide | Double line between row numbers | Select neighbours, right-click, Unhide |
| Filtered out | Funnel icon in a header, blue row numbers | Clear the filter on the Data tab |
| Collapsed in a group | Plus sign in the margin | Select the plus sign or the highest level number |
When Unhide does nothing: filters and groups
This is the part people miss. If Unhide doesn't bring your rows back, they probably weren't hidden with the Hide command at all.
Filters. Microsoft explains that filtered data shows only the rows that meet your criteria and hides the rest. If a column heading shows a Filter button instead of a plain arrow, a filter is on. Go to Data and select Clear, or open the filter arrow and tick (Select All). Unhide won't touch filtered rows, which is why it seems broken.
Groups. If there's a small plus sign or a set of level numbers in the left margin, the rows sit inside an outline that's been collapsed. Select the plus sign, or Microsoft's shortcut Alt+Shift+= with a cell in the group selected, to show the detail. Selecting the highest level number shows every group at once.
Why rows 1 or 2 seem impossible to unhide
When the hidden rows are at the very top of the sheet, there's no row above them to select. The simplest route is Ctrl+A to select everything, then right-click a row number and choose Unhide. That catches the top rows along with the rest.
Hiding rows again when you're done
Once you've checked the data, you might want to tuck those rows away again before sharing your screen with a client. Select the rows and press Ctrl+9, or right-click and choose Hide. Microsoft lists Ctrl+0 as the matching shortcut for columns. Hold Ctrl as you click if you want to hide rows that aren't next to each other.
A word of caution: hiding isn't security. Anyone who opens the file can unhide those rows just as easily as you did. If the rows hold anything private, such as personal client notes, take them out of the copy you share. If you want to stop people changing parts of a shared sheet, my guide to locking cells in Excel is a better route than hiding rows.
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Checking the numbers once everything's visible
Hidden rows can throw people when they add up a column, because some functions include them and some don't. Once everything's visible, check your totals again. If you're splitting those totals across orders or staff, my guide to dividing in Excel walks through the formulas.
Unhiding rows on a shared or protected sheet
Sometimes the Unhide option is greyed out. If that happens, check whether the sheet is protected. Look at the Review tab: if you see Unprotect Sheet, the sheet is locked. If it's your own file, unprotect it, unhide the rows, then protect it again. If it belongs to a colleague or a client, ask them rather than trying to work around it, because they may have hidden those rows on purpose.
Hidden rows also matter for totals. Microsoft says the SUBTOTAL function includes rows you've hidden with the Hide command when you use function numbers 1 to 11, and ignores them with 101 to 111, while rows filtered out are always left out. So if a subtotal on someone else's order sheet doesn't match what you can see, check which number the formula starts with before you assume the data is wrong.
What I'd do
Select the rows either side, right-click, Unhide. If that does nothing, look for a funnel icon or a plus sign, because it's a filter or a group, not a hidden row. And if you're inheriting a messy sheet, Ctrl+A then Unhide is the fastest way to see what you're dealing with.
Frequently asked questions
How do I unhide all rows in Excel at once?
Press Ctrl+A to select the whole sheet, right-click any row number and choose Unhide.
Why can't I unhide rows in Excel?
The rows are probably filtered or collapsed in a group rather than hidden. Clear the filter or expand the group instead.
How do I know where rows are hidden?
Look for a jump in the row numbers and a double line between two row numbers.
What is the shortcut to hide rows in Excel?
Ctrl+9 hides the selected rows. Ctrl+0 hides the selected columns.
