Formatting Issues

How to Fix Excel Data Disappeared After Changing Row Height

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

Worksheet data and row numbers vanish after modifying row height, although column letters and the overall file size remain unaffected.

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adjusting row heights or modifying spreadsheet layouts.
Observed behavior: The worksheet appears blank and row numbers disappear from the left-hand display, making it seem as if the data has been deleted, even though the file size confirms the data is still present.

Before you start

Verify that you haven't accidentally applied any data filters or scrolled far down past your active data range, as this can also make your spreadsheet appear temporarily empty.

Solution 1Recommended

Unhide Rows and Reset Row Height

This method restores visibility to rows that were accidentally hidden or set to a height of zero during formatting.

In Excel, changing a row's height to zero is functionally identical to hiding it. To bring the data back, you need to select the entire worksheet and manually restore a standard row height.

Select the entire worksheet

Press 'Ctrl + A' on your keyboard, or click the small triangle button in the top-left corner of the worksheet (where the row numbers and column letters intersect) to highlight all cells.

Navigate to the Format menu

Go to the 'Home' tab on the top ribbon menu. Locate the 'Cells' group and click on the 'Format' drop-down button.

Unhide the rows

In the drop-down menu, hover over 'Hide & Unhide' under the Visibility section, and click on 'Unhide Rows'.

Reset the row height

If unhiding does not work, click 'Format' again, select 'Row Height', type a standard visible value such as '15' into the dialog box, and click 'OK'.

Data Restored: Your row numbers and spreadsheet data should now be fully visible across the entire document.

Easily Manage Spreadsheet Layouts in WPS Office

WPS Spreadsheet provides a highly intuitive interface to manage row heights, unhide missing data, and format your spreadsheets without the hassle of vanishing cells.

1. Select All Cells: Open your document in WPS Spreadsheet and press Ctrl+A to select the entire worksheet.
2. Access the Format Tools: Navigate to the Home tab and click on 'Rows and Columns' in the top ribbon.
3. Adjust Row Height: Select 'Row Height' from the drop-down, enter a default value like 15, and hit OK to restore your hidden data.

Quickly adjust row heights and unhide data with straightforward menu optionsFully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xls, .xlsx, .csv)Lightweight application that runs smoothly on all major operating systemsFree to use for everyday spreadsheet formatting and calculation tasks

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does setting row height to zero hide the data completely?

In most spreadsheet applications, configuring a row height to zero is the exact technical equivalent of using the 'Hide Row' command. The data remains safely stored in the file, but it is visually collapsed so it doesn't take up space on your screen.

Can I adjust the height of multiple specific rows at once instead of the whole sheet?

Yes. Click and drag your mouse across the specific row numbers on the left side of your screen to select multiple rows. Then, right-click any of the highlighted row numbers and choose 'Row Height' to apply the same height to all selected rows simultaneously.

What is the standard default row height for a new spreadsheet?

The standard default row height in most spreadsheet software is 15 points (equivalent to 20 pixels), which comfortably fits the default 11-point text font. If you increase your font size, the software will usually automatically expand the row height to accommodate it.

Document & File Issues