Catalog

How To Hide Columns In Google Sheets

August 7, 2023 2.1K views

Find out how to hide columns in Google Sheets efficiently and effectively with this comprehensive guide. Whether you're looking to prioritize relevant data or protect sensitive information, the ability to hide columns can be a game changer. We will guide you through manually hiding columns and share expert tips to streamline the process. By the end, you'll have the confidence and expertise to hide columns in Google Sheets effortlessly, optimizing your workflow and enhancing your data organization.

How to hide columns in Google Sheets

Step 1: Open Your Google Sheet

To hide columns in Google Sheets, access the spreadsheet after logging into your Google account and going to Google Sheets.

Hide Google sheets

Step 2: Select the Column(s) You Want to Hide

To hide columns in Google Sheets, first open your sheet and click on the letter of the column you wish to hide. For multiple columns, hold the "Shift" key while clicking on their letters.

Step 3: Right-Click on the Selected Column(s)

After selecting your preferred column(s), right-click on the selected column header and choose "Hide column" from the drop-down menu. This option will instantly hide the selected columns from view.

Right click to hide sheets

Step 4: Verify That Your Columns Are Hidden

To verify that your selected columns have been hidden, navigate to the right side of the screen, and locate the scrollbar. If there are any hidden columns in your Google Sheet, you will notice a gap in the letters indicating the hidden columns. You can also see the hidden columns by scrolling through the sheet.

Select column or row

How To Hide Multiple Consecutive Columns In Google Sheets

If you're working with a sizeable Google Sheet, you may need to hide multiple consecutive columns for various reasons. You can declutter your view to focus on a specific data set or protect sensitive information from unauthorized personnel access. Whatever the case, hiding multiple consecutive columns in Google Sheets is a straightforward process that won't take up much of your time.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hide multiple consecutive columns in Google Sheets:

Step 1: Open your Google Sheet and select the first column you want to hide by clicking on the column letter.

Use the entire column

Step 2: Hold the Shift key and click on the last column you want to hide.

Step 3: Right-click on any of the selected column headers. It will open a context menu.

Hide multiple columns

Step 4: To hide selected columns, choose "Hide columns" from the right-click menu. This action will remove the columns from your sight.

Hide or unhide columns

How to Hide Multiple Discontinuous Columns in Google Sheets

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you need to hide specific columns in your Google Sheets, but they are separate from each other? Fear not, we will guide you through hiding multiple discontinuous columns in just a few simple steps.

Step 1: Select the columns you want to hide

To select multiple non-adjacent columns, hold down the "Ctrl" key (or "Command" key on Mac) and click on the column letters of each column that you want to hide. The selected columns should now be highlighted.

Continuous columns

Step 2: Right-click and choose "Hide columns"

Right-click on any of the selected columns and choose "Hide columns" from the menu that appears. It will hide all of the selected columns at once.

Hidden columns

Step 3: Verify the hidden columns

If you want to verify the columns have been hidden, look at the column letters in the header row. The hidden columns will not be displayed, and there will be a gap where they used to be. If you need to know how to hide and unhide columns in google sheets at any time, go to the column to the left and right-click on it.

And there you have it! Now you know how to hide multiple non-adjacent columns in your Google Sheets, saving you time and hassle. Try these steps for yourself, and let us know how it goes!

  • How To Hide A Column In Google Sheets On Various Devices

Managing columns in Google Sheets has never been easier, regardless of your device! If you're on a Mac, it's as simple as clicking on the column you want to hide, moving your cursor left, clicking the downward arrow that appears, and selecting 'Hide column.' If you're using an iPad, you must tap on the column heading, select the three-dot icon, and hit 'Hide Column.' In the Google Sheets app, tapping the column header and choosing the triple-dot icon will allow you to hide the column easily. And on mobile devices, tap the column heading, choose the triple-dot icon, and select 'Hide Column.'

But what if you need to unhide a column? No worries! Follow similar steps and select 'Unhide Column' to reveal your needed information. This intuitive and user-friendly system makes hiding and unhiding columns a breeze. So whether you're using a desktop computer, a tablet, or a mobile device, you can easily manage your columns in Google Sheets like a pro. Give it a try and see for yourself just how convenient and effortless it can be!

How To Use Keyboard Shortcuts To Hide Columns In Google Sheets

Are you tired of constantly scrolling left and right on your Google Sheets document to find the correct columns? Keyboard shortcuts might be the answer to your problem! In this tutorial, we'll walk you through the simple steps to hide columns using keyboard shortcuts, making navigating your document much easier and more efficient.

Step 1: Select the columns you want to hide

First, you must select the columns you want to hide by clicking the column header. If you want to hide multiple columns, hold down the "Ctrl" key (Windows) or "Command" key (Mac) while selecting the headers of the columns you want to hide.

How to hide a column

Step 2: Use the keyboard shortcut to hide the columns

Once you have selected the columns you want to hide, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + Alt + 0" (Windows) or "Command + Shift + 0" (Mac) to hide them. Alternatively, right-click the selected columns and choose "Hide columns" from the drop-down menu.

Shown hidden columns

Step 3: Verify that the columns are hidden

To verify the columns are hidden, look for the letters representing the column headers. If any missing letters, you have successfully hidden that column(s).

How To Unhide Columns In Google Sheets?

Unhiding columns in Google Sheets is a quick and easy process that can save you time and effort. To unhide columns, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open your Google Sheets file and locate the hidden column(s). They will be marked with a small underline between the column letters.

Locate hidden columns

Step 2: Click on the column letter to the left of the hidden column(s) you wish to reveal.

Choose column

Step 3: While holding the mouse button, drag the cursor to the right until all hidden columns are highlighted.

Step 4: Release the mouse button and right-click on the highlighted area.

Step 5: Click on "Unhide columns" from the drop-down menu.

Hide column in Google spreadsheet

And just like that, your hidden columns will be restored to their original visibility! This simple process can save you time and unnecessary frustration in the future, making your workflow smoother and more efficient.

The Best Office Software - WPS Office

Are you tired of shelling out money for a subscription to Microsoft Office? Look no further than WPS Office. This powerful software suite is a free alternative to the pricey competition, offering many features that are just as slick and useful as those found in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

One of the standout features of WPS Office is its excellent compatibility with Microsoft's proprietary file formats.

Whether you're working with a .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx file, you can rest assured that WPS Office can easily handle it. It is crucial in any office software, as many colleagues and collaborators will likely use Microsoft's popular programs.

But WPS Office isn't just a clone of Microsoft Office - it has the unique features that set it apart. One of the most impressive is its PDF function.

Trustpilotstars4.8
WPS Office- Free All-in-One Office Suite
  • Use Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE, No Ads.

  • Edit PDF files with the powerful PDF toolkit.

  • Microsoft-like interface. Easy to learn. 100% Compatibility.

  • Boost your productivity with WPS's abundant free Word, Excel, PPT, and CV templates.

5,820,008 User
avator
Algirdas Jasaitis

FAQs

How to hide columns in Google Sheets without affecting other users?

To hide columns without affecting other users, select the columns you want to hide and right-click. Then, choose "Hide Columns" from the drop-down menu. This will hide the selected columns only for you and not for other users who can see the sheet.

How do I make only certain columns visible in Google Sheets?

To make only certain columns visible, click on the left-most column header and drag the cursor to the right to select the columns that you want to show. Then, right-click on the selected columns and choose "Unhide Columns" from the drop-down menu. This will make only the selected columns visible, while hiding the rest.

How do you hide all cells except selected?

To hide all cells except the selected cells, use the "Protect Sheets and Ranges" feature of Google Sheets. Click on the "Data" tab and select "Protect Sheets and Ranges". Then, select the range of cells you want to show and click on the "Set Permissions" option. Choose "Custom" and change the Protected Ranges option to "Show". This will hide all the cells except the selected range.

Closing Thoughts

This complete guide on how to hide a column in Google Sheets has been helpful to you. We've covered the basics of hiding and unhiding columns and some advanced techniques like hiding multiple columns and using keyboard shortcuts.

If you're looking for an alternative to Google Sheets, we highly recommend trying WPS Office. WPS offers a range of editing and formatting tools that can help you create professional-quality documents quickly and easily. Plus, it's compatible with Microsoft Office, so you can work seamlessly with colleagues and clients who use those programs.

Discovering columns in Google Sheets is essential to keep your spreadsheets organized and presentable. With the right techniques and knowledge, you'll easily hide and unhide columns and streamline your workflow like a pro



15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.