Version History Issues

Fix Microsoft Forms Deleting Hidden Rows in Excel

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

Rows that are hidden in an Excel response sheet linked to Microsoft Forms disappear or seem to be deleted when the file is accessed via Microsoft Teams or Excel for the Web.

Product: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating on and formatting a shared Microsoft Forms response workbook through Teams or Excel Online.
Observed behavior: Hidden rows in the shared Excel workbook appear to be completely deleted rather than just hidden, causing concerns over missing form response data.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, ensure you have edit permissions for the shared Excel workbook and verify with colleagues whether anyone manually deleted rows during a co-authoring session.

Solution 1Recommended

Review Version History and Restore the Workbook

Check if another user accidentally deleted the rows and restore a previous version of the Excel file from before the data was lost.

When collaborating in Microsoft Teams or Excel for the Web, co-authoring conflicts or accidental modifications by colleagues can cause hidden rows to be deleted. Using Version History allows you to roll back to an intact state.

Open the workbook in Excel Online

Navigate to the shared Excel response sheet through Microsoft Teams or SharePoint and open it in Excel for the Web.

Access Version History

Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, select 'Info', and then click on 'Version History'.

Locate an intact version

Browse through the list of saved versions on the right sidebar. Click on older versions to preview them and verify if the hidden rows are still present.

Restore the file

Once you find the correct version containing your rows, click the 'Restore' button to revert the shared document to that specific state.

Tip: Restoring a previous version will undo any new form responses received after that version's timestamp. You may need to manually sync or export newer responses from Microsoft Forms.

Solution 2

Confirm Rows Are Hidden Rather Than Deleted

Ensure that the rows haven't just been heavily filtered or remain hidden due to spreadsheet formatting applied by another user.

Solution 3

Sync to a New Excel Workbook

If the current workbook is corrupted or continues to drop hidden rows, disconnecting and syncing to a new response sheet can resolve the issue.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do hidden rows disappear in Excel when synced with Microsoft Forms?

This usually happens due to co-authoring conflicts in Microsoft Teams, accidental deletion by users who share the workbook, or sync glitches between Forms and Excel for the Web when dealing with custom formatting.

Can I recover deleted Microsoft Forms responses from my Excel file?

Yes. If the workbook is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint (as it is when accessed via Teams), you can use the 'Version History' feature under 'File' > 'Info' to restore a previous state of the document before the rows were deleted.

How can I format or hide rows without disrupting the Microsoft Forms sync?

It is highly recommended not to alter, hide, or format rows directly on the active sheet where Forms deposits data. Instead, create a new tab within the same workbook and use formulas (like QUERY or simple cell references) to pull the data over, applying your hidden rows and formatting on that secondary tab.

Document & File Issues