Prevent Hidden Excel Rows and Columns from Affecting Coauthors
Question details
The user needs to prevent hidden rows and columns in a coauthored Microsoft Excel workbook stored on SharePoint from becoming visible to other coauthors.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel for SharePoint co-authoring
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Multiple users are coauthoring an Excel workbook stored on SharePoint, and the user hides rows or columns expecting a personal view.
- Observed behavior
- Hidden rows and columns are shared with all coauthors, so the change appears on other users' screens. Excel Sheet Views do not isolate hidden rows or columns.
Confirm that the workbook is stored on SharePoint and that you have Edit permissions. Remember that in Excel, Hide Rows and Hide Columns are workbook-level changes, not individual user settings.
Use a personal Sheet View with filters instead of hidden rows or columns
Use this when you only need to change what you see while coauthoring. It creates a temporary personal view without changing the workbook for other users.
Excel Sheet Views can save sorting and filtering, but they do not make manually hidden rows or columns private. Avoid using Hide Rows or Hide Columns for a personal display, because those actions affect every coauthor.
In Excel, open the workbook from SharePoint or OneDrive, then select the worksheet you want to view differently.
Click the View tab, choose Sheet View, then select New to create a temporary personal view.
Use Data > Filter or the sort controls to show only the rows or columns you need, and apply any other display settings.
Click Keep in the Sheet View group to save the temporary view. Other coauthors will not see this view.
Restructure the workbook to reduce the need for hidden rows and columns
Use this if you need more durable separation between user groups. Moving data to separate sheets or using grouping can reduce the need to hide rows for personal reasons.
Submit or vote for an Excel feature request for independent hidden rows and columns
Use this if the existing workarounds do not fit your workflow and you want Microsoft to add support for personal hidden rows and columns during coauthoring.
Use WPS Office as a Free, Familiar Spreadsheet Alternative for Everyday Excel Files
WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office that opens and edits .xlsx workbooks with a familiar ribbon interface, so you can review spreadsheet content without being locked into a single Office setup.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and click Download WPS Office Free for your operating system.
- 2. Install and open WPS Spreadsheets: Run the installer, launch WPS Office, and open WPS Spreadsheets from the home screen.
- 3. Open your Excel workbook: Click Menu > Open, select the .xlsx file from SharePoint/OneDrive or your local disk, and review the workbook with familiar spreadsheet tools.
- 4. Use the file in your preferred workflow: Edit, save, or export the workbook while maintaining Microsoft Excel file compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Excel let each coauthor hide rows or columns independently?
No, current versions of Excel do not provide a personal hide option. Hide Rows and Hide Columns changes are applied to the workbook and appear for all coauthors.
Do Sheet Views make hidden rows and columns private?
No. Sheet Views can save personal filters, sorting, and other display settings, but they do not isolate manually hidden rows or columns from other coauthors.
What does the 'See Just Mine' option do in coauthoring?
It filters the view to show only your own edits and changes, which is useful for review, but it does not replace personal hidden rows and columns.
Can I move my workbook to WPS Office to fix this SharePoint coauthoring limitation?
WPS Office is not a fix for Excel's shared hidden row behavior, but it is a free, compatible spreadsheet editor that can open .xlsx files and handle many everyday editing workflows.
How do I request independent hidden rows and columns in Excel?
Use the Microsoft 365 feedback portal, search for the existing idea, and vote or submit a feature request for personal hidden rows and columns during coauthoring.
