How to Hide Cells in Excel (4 Easy Ways) | WPS Office Blog (2023)

Hiding cells in Excel is an effective way to manage and protect data. In this guide, you will explore different ways to achieve this goal. Share ideas and experiences after trying each approach.

Part 1: How to use cell formatting to hide individual cell contents in Excel

Hiding certain cell contents in Excel can be a secret weapon to protect data privacy. Whether you use Windows or Mac, we've got you covered:

step 1: select a cell

Start by selecting the cells whose contents you want to hide. Just click and drag the cursor over the desired cell.

step 2: Access the Format Cells dialog box

step 3: select a custom number format

In the Format Cells dialog box, go to the Number tab. Select the "Custom" category.

step 4: define a custom format

In the Type field, type three semicolons (???) (without quotes). This format tells Excel not to display anything in the cell.

step 5: Confirm and apply

Click OK to apply the custom formatting and hide the cell contents. appearance! Your cell contents are now hidden.

I find this approach very convenient when it comes to personal data and keeping sensitive information. It's also easy to unhide with the "delete" key. A tip about using Find and Replace to locate hidden cells is a great tip for managing hidden content effectively.

Part 2: Hide cells by hiding rows or columns in Excel

Research Excel's row and column hiding techniques and you'll master the art of hiding multiple cells at once. Learn how to easily and effectively hide entire rows or columns to make your spreadsheets cleaner and simpler.

Method 1: Use a shortcut

Simplify the process with easy-to-use shortcuts tailored for Windows and Mac users:

• Windows hotkey: press "Ctrl" + "9"

  See Also

  How to hide and unhide rows in Excel

• Mac Shortcut: Press "Command" + "9"

Step by step guide:

step 1.Select the rows or columns you want to hide.

step 2.Use the appropriate shortcut for your operating system.

3rd stepWatch selected rows or columns gracefully disappear

I've found that shortcuts are a quick and easy way to hide rows or columns. They are especially useful when I need to hide only a few rows or columns. However, I have a hard time remembering the shortcuts for hiding columns, so I have to look them up every time I need to use them.

Method 2: Use the plus button to hide cells in Excel

This method adds a visual touch to your data management, allowing you to easily hide and show rows or columns.

Step by step guide:

step 1.Select the rows or columns you want to hide.

step 2.Tap the plus (+) button on the top bar.

3rd stepThe selected row or column will collapse immediately below the plus sign.

Find tip: To restore a hidden row or column, just click the minus (-) button next to the plus sign.

I find the plus button a handy way to hide and unhide rows or columns. It is especially useful when I often need to hide or reveal rows or columns. I also find the plus button easy to remember so I don't have to look for it every time I need to use it.

Method 3: Hide cells in Excel without the plus button

This method provides flexibility by allowing you to hide cells without using the plus sign.

Step by step guide:

step 1.Select the rows or columns you want to hide.

step 2.Right-click the selection and select Hide.

3rd stepWatch as the selected row or column disappears from view.

Unhide tip: To unhide a hidden row or column, right-click the visible row or column next to the hidden row or column and select Unhide.

I've found the Format Cells dialog box to be the most flexible way to hide rows or columns. It gives me more control over how rows or columns are hidden, and I can use it to hide rows or columns that are protected or contain formulas. However, I found the Format Cells dialog to be the least user-friendly of the three methods, and it took me a few tries to figure out how to use it properly.

comparison method:

The three methods of hiding rows or columns in Excel are suitable for different situations, depending on how readers want to hide Excel cells.

• Shortcuts are the fastest way to hide rows or columns. They are especially useful if you only need to hide a few rows or columns.

• The plus button is a handy way to hide and unhide rows or columns. It is especially useful if you need to hide and unhide rows or columns frequently.

• The Format Cells dialog box gives you more control over how to hide rows or columns. You can use it to hide protected rows or columns, or to hide rows or columns that contain formulas.

Ultimately, the best way to hide rows or columns in Excel is the one that best suits the specific needs of the reader.

Part III: How to Edit Excel, Word, PowerPoint for Free?

WPS office softwareis a free, open source office suite that is fully compatible with Microsoft Office files. It includes word processors, spreadsheets, and presentation software that can be used to edit Excel, Word, and PowerPoint files.

WPS Office is a great choice for anyone who wants to edit Excel, Word and PowerPoint files without paying for Microsoft Office. It is free to use, fully compatible with Microsoft Office files and runs on Windows and Mac.

Advantages of WPS Office:

• compatibility: It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, which allows you to work on a variety of devices.

• complete sequence: Includes word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and PDF tools.

• role model: Access a variety of templates to enhance document creation.

• to cooperate: Supports real-time online document collaboration.

Missing WPS Office:

• Macros and VBA: There is limited support for macros and VBA.

In short, WPS Office offers an affordable package with many advantages that make it a good choice for basic document needs. Although it has some limitations, its compatibility and feature set make it valuable for efficient document management.

Steps to edit Word/Excel/Powerpoint in WPS

To edit Word, Excel or PowerPoint files in WPS, you can follow these steps:

step 1.Download and install WPS Office on your computer.

step 2.Open the WPS Office application.

3rd stepClick the File menu and select Open.

Step 4.Navigate to the location of the Excel, Word, or PowerPoint file you want to edit.

Step 5.Click the file to open it in WPS Office.

Step 6.Edit the file.

Step 7.When you're done editing, click the File menu and select Save.

download mode

You can download WPS Office from:WPS Office website. The download is free and the installation process is simple.

Frequent questions

Q1: How to find all rows and columns in Excel?

To reveal all lines: Right-click on the line number and select Reveal.

To show all columns: Right-click the column letter and select Reveal.

You can also use shortcuts:

• Reveal row: Ctrl + Shift + 9

• Unhide Columns: Ctrl + Shift + 0 (zero)

Q2: How to use shortcuts to add rows or columns in Excel?

To add rows or columns in Excel using a shortcut:

• To add a row above: select the row and press "Ctrl" + "+" (plus sign).

• To add a row below: Select the row and press "Ctrl"+"Shift"+"+" (plus sign).

• To add a column to the left: select the column and press "Ctrl" + "+" (plus sign).

• To add a column to the right: select the column and press "Ctrl"+"Shift"+"+" (plus sign).

These shortcuts will quickly insert a new row or column at the selected location.

sum up

In this tutorial, we have introduced different methods to hide cell contents in Excel, including individual cells and entire rows or columns. In addition to these technologies, the spotlight is also onWPS office softwareis an affordable alternative with cross-platform compatibility, a full suite of apps and user-friendly features, making it a great choice for efficient document management and cross-device editing.