How to Restore Missing Rows and Gridlines in an Excel Worksheet with WPS Spreadsheets
Question details
The user needs to restore worksheet rows and gridlines that appear missing when an Excel worksheet seems to stop at a specific row and the area below is gray.
- Product
- WPS Spreadsheets / Excel-compatible worksheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A worksheet appears to stop at a specific row, with the area below shown as gray, and the user wants to recover hidden rows, gridlines, or the normal full worksheet view.
- Observed behavior
- The worksheet displays a gray area below a certain row, suggesting Page Break Preview, hidden rows, a split window, an active filter, or an applied print area.
Open the affected workbook in WPS Spreadsheets and check the bottom-right corner for the Page Break Preview icon. Make sure the workbook is not protected so you can change view settings and row visibility.
Switch from Page Break Preview to Normal View
Use this first when a worksheet looks cut off and the area below a row is gray. Page Break Preview hides unused areas and can look like missing rows.
Page Break Preview shows only the current print area and page breaks, which can make a worksheet appear to end before the final row. Switching to Normal view restores the full worksheet grid.
In WPS Spreadsheets, click the View tab on the top ribbon.
In the Workbook Views group, click Normal. This exits Page Break Preview and restores the standard worksheet grid.
Unhide Rows Around the Missing Area with the Name Box
Use this if rows are still missing after switching to Normal view. Hidden rows need to be unhidden manually from the row headers.
Clear Print Area, Split Panes, and Filters
Use this if the worksheet still looks restricted. An active print area, split pane, or filter can hide or gray out portions of the sheet.
Restore Missing Rows and Gridlines in WPS Spreadsheets
Open your Excel workbook in WPS Spreadsheets and use Normal view, the Name Box, and Page Layout options to restore hidden rows, gridlines, and the full worksheet range.
- 1. Download and install WPS Office: Download WPS Office Free from the official WPS website and complete the installation.
- 2. Open the affected Excel workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheets, click Menu, choose Open, and select the .xlsx or .xls workbook that is missing rows or gridlines.
- 3. Switch to Normal view: Click the View tab and choose Normal to leave Page Break Preview and restore the standard grid.
- 4. Unhide hidden rows: Type A1048576 in the Name Box, press Enter, then select the hidden row range, right-click the row header, and choose Unhide.
- 5. Clear print area or split restrictions: On the Page Layout tab, clear any applied print area, and on the View tab disable Split if it is active.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Excel worksheet turn gray below a certain row?
This usually happens because the workbook is in Page Break Preview, rows are hidden, or a print area is applied. In WPS Spreadsheets, click View > Normal first, then unhide rows or clear the print area.
How do I unhide rows when the row numbers are missing beyond the visible area?
Click the Name Box, type A1048576, and press Enter. Then press Ctrl+Shift+Up Arrow to select the range, right-click the row header, and choose Unhide.
Can WPS Spreadsheets restore rows without losing Excel formatting?
Yes. WPS Spreadsheets opens .xlsx and .xls files with formatting, formulas, and row/column structure intact, so you can switch views and unhide rows safely.
What should I do if clearing the print area does not restore the gridlines?
Check for split panes on the View tab and active filters on the Data tab. Turn off Split and clear filters, then switch to Normal view again.
How many rows should a normal worksheet have?
A standard worksheet goes through row 1,048,576. A gray area does not mean the sheet ended; it usually means a view or print setting is hiding the remaining rows.
