Office Settings & Configuration

Fix Excel for the Web Sheet View Not Preserving Hidden Columns

Nimra Malik Oct 8, 2026 871 views

Question details

Users need to permanently hide specific rows and columns when collaborating in Excel for the Web, but the visibility settings are not being saved.

How to Fix Excel for the Web Sheet View Not Preserving Hidden Columns

Product: Excel for the Web
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A user hides rows or columns while working inside a custom Sheet View in Excel for the Web and saves the file.
Observed behavior: When the custom Sheet View is reopened, the previously hidden rows and columns become visible again due to a platform limitation.

Before you start

Ensure you have editing permissions for the workbook, as you will need to modify the default document view to ensure your formatting changes are preserved for all users.

Solution 1Recommended

Hide Columns and Rows in the Default View

Apply your visibility settings in the workbook's default view rather than a custom Sheet View to ensure they remain hidden when the file is reopened.

Excel for the Web has a known limitation where custom Sheet Views do not persistently save row and column visibility settings. To bypass this, you must hide the data in the main default view of the spreadsheet.

Exit Custom Sheet View

Navigate to the 'View' tab on the Excel ribbon. In the Sheet View group, click the drop-down menu and select 'Default' to exit your custom view.

Select Columns or Rows

Click and drag across the column letters (e.g., A, B, C) or row numbers that you wish to hide.

Hide the Selection

Right-click the highlighted headers and select 'Hide Columns' or 'Hide Rows' from the context menu.

Save and Verify

Excel for the Web auto-saves your changes. When you or a collaborator reopens the workbook, those specific columns and rows will remain hidden in the default view.

Hide Columns and Rows in the Default View

Collaboration Impact: Hiding columns in the default view applies to everyone viewing the workbook. If other collaborators need to see those columns, they will have to manually unhide them.

Solution 2

Submit Feedback to Microsoft

Report this Sheet View limitation to Microsoft to help prioritize a permanent fix in future updates.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office for Reliable Spreadsheet Formatting

If you are frustrated by the limitations of web-based spreadsheet applications, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a robust, lightweight desktop application that flawlessly saves all your hidden columns, filters, and custom views without unexpected behavior, entirely for free.

1. Open Your Workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing Excel (.xlsx) file.
2. Select Data to Hide: Highlight the columns or rows you want to hide from view.
3. Apply Visibility Settings: Right-click the selected headers and choose 'Hide'. Your settings will be permanently preserved when you save the document.

Reliably saves hidden columns and rows without view-based glitchesFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) file formatsFree, lightweight, and incredibly fast to launchFamiliar user interface makes migration seamless

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my hidden columns reappear in Excel for the Web?

This happens due to a known platform limitation. When you hide rows or columns while working inside a custom Sheet View, Excel for the Web fails to preserve these visibility settings when the file is closed and reopened.

What is the purpose of a Sheet View in Excel?

Sheet Views allow users collaborating in a shared Excel for the Web document to create custom filters and sort data without disrupting the view for other co-authors editing the document simultaneously.

How do I turn off Sheet View in Excel online?

To turn off a custom Sheet View, navigate to the 'View' tab on the ribbon, locate the 'Sheet View' section, and select 'Default' from the dropdown menu to return to the standard document view.

Does the desktop version of Excel have this same limitation?

The desktop version of Excel offers a feature called 'Custom Views' which generally handles hidden columns and rows better for individual use. However, when using the newer co-authoring 'Sheet Views' feature, similar limitations can apply across platforms.

Office App Problems