[Excel Shortcut] Hide One or More Columns (Windows & Mac)

Written by Kasper Langmann

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool that offers a multitude of features to help you manage, analyze, and present your data. One such feature is the ability to hide one or more columns, which can be particularly useful when working with large datasets. This guide will walk you through the process of hiding columns in Excel, using both keyboard shortcuts and the Excel menu options. We’ll cover both Windows and Mac operating systems, so no matter what platform you’re using, you’ll be able to follow along.

Why Hide Columns in Excel?

Hiding columns in Excel can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. For one, it can help to simplify your view of a large dataset, making it easier to focus on the data that’s most relevant to your current task. This can be particularly useful when you’re working with a spreadsheet that contains many columns of data, but you only need to work with a subset of those columns at any given time.

Another reason to hide columns in Excel is to protect sensitive data. If you’re sharing a spreadsheet with others, you may not want them to see certain columns that contain confidential or sensitive information. By hiding these columns, you can ensure that the data remains private, even when the spreadsheet is shared.

How to Hide Columns in Excel

There are several ways to hide columns in Excel, including using the Excel menu options and keyboard shortcuts. Let’s take a look at each of these methods in turn.

Using Excel Menu Options

The most straightforward way to hide columns in Excel is to use the Excel menu options. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Select the column or columns that you want to hide. You can do this by clicking on the lettered header of the column.
  2. Right-click on the selected column or columns.
  3. From the context menu that appears, select the ‘Hide’ option.

The selected column or columns will now be hidden from view. To unhide them, you’ll need to select the columns on either side of the hidden columns, right-click, and select ‘Unhide’ from the context menu.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

If you prefer to use keyboard shortcuts, Excel has you covered. The shortcuts for hiding and unhiding columns are slightly different depending on whether you’re using a Windows or Mac operating system.

Windows

To hide one or more columns in Excel on Windows, select the columns you want to hide, then press the following keys:

  1. Ctrl + 0 (zero)

To unhide the columns, select the columns on either side of the hidden columns, then press:

  1. Ctrl + Shift + 0 (zero)

Mac

If you’re using a Mac, the process is similar, but the keys are slightly different. To hide columns, select them and then press:

  1. Command + 0 (zero)

To unhide the columns, select the columns on either side of the hidden columns, then press:

  1. Command + Shift + 0 (zero)

Additional Tips and Tricks

While hiding and unhiding columns in Excel is relatively straightforward, there are a few additional tips and tricks that can help you work more efficiently.

Hide Multiple Non-Adjacent Columns

If you want to hide multiple non-adjacent columns, you can do so by holding down the Ctrl key (or Command key on a Mac) while you select the columns. Once you’ve selected all the columns you want to hide, you can then right-click and select ‘Hide’, or use the appropriate keyboard shortcut.

Hide All Columns Except One

If you want to hide all columns except one, the easiest way to do this is to select the entire spreadsheet (Ctrl + A or Command + A), then deselect the column you want to keep visible by holding down the Ctrl key (or Command key on a Mac) and clicking on the column header. You can then hide the selected columns as usual.

Unhide All Columns

If you’ve hidden multiple columns and want to unhide them all at once, you can do so by selecting the entire spreadsheet (Ctrl + A or Command + A) and then using the ‘Unhide’ command or keyboard shortcut.

Conclusion

Hiding columns in Excel is a useful feature that can help you simplify your view of large datasets, protect sensitive data, and work more efficiently. Whether you prefer to use the Excel menu options or keyboard shortcuts, the process is straightforward and easy to learn. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to hide and unhide columns in Excel with ease.