Have you ever hidden rows, columns, or even entire sheets in Excel and then forgotten how to bring them back? Don’t worry, unhiding everything in Excel 2019 is a simple process that can be done in just a few clicks. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to unhide all hidden elements in your Excel workbook.
Step by Step Tutorial to Unhide Everything in Excel 2019
Before we jump into the steps, let’s understand what we’re going to achieve. By following these steps, you’ll be able to make all hidden rows, columns, and sheets visible again in Excel 2019.
Step 1: Open the Excel Workbook
Open the Excel 2019 workbook that contains the hidden elements.
When you open the workbook, ensure that you’re on the sheet where you want to unhide rows or columns. If you want to unhide sheets, it doesn’t matter which sheet you’re on.
Step 2: Select the Entire Sheet
Click the triangle icon at the intersection of the row numbers and column letters to select the entire sheet.
Selecting the entire sheet ensures that no hidden rows or columns are missed during the unhide process.
Step 3: Right-Click and Choose ‘Unhide’
Right-click on the row numbers or column letters and choose ‘Unhide’ from the context menu.
This step will unhide any hidden rows or columns in the selected area. If nothing appears, it means there were no hidden rows or columns in that section.
Step 4: Repeat for Other Sheets
Repeat steps 2 and 3 for other sheets in the workbook where you want to unhide rows or columns.
Remember that unhiding rows and columns needs to be done on a sheet-by-sheet basis, so you’ll need to repeat these steps for each sheet you’re working with.
Step 5: Unhide Sheets
To unhide hidden sheets, right-click on any visible sheet’s tab and choose ‘Unhide.’
A dialog box will appear with a list of hidden sheets. Select the sheet you want to make visible and click ‘OK.’ Repeat this process if you have multiple sheets to unhide.
After completing these steps, all your hidden rows, columns, and sheets should now be visible. You can now work on your data without any restrictions.
Tips for Unhiding Everything in Excel 2019
- If you have a lot of hidden rows or columns, it might be faster to use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + A to select the entire sheet.
- You can also unhide rows and columns by going to the ‘Home’ tab, clicking on ‘Format,’ and then choosing ‘Hide & Unhide’ under the ‘Visibility’ section.
- If you’re trying to unhide very hidden sheets (sheets that have been made invisible using VBA), you’ll need to use the VBA editor to make them visible again.
- Remember that unhiding sheets is a workbook-level action, so you don’t need to be on a specific sheet to unhide other sheets.
- If you can’t unhide rows, columns, or sheets, it’s possible that the workbook is protected. You’ll need to remove the protection before unhiding elements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I unhide multiple sheets at once?
No, you cannot unhide multiple sheets at once using the user interface. You need to unhide each sheet individually.
What if the ‘Unhide’ option is greyed out?
If the ‘Unhide’ option is greyed out, it’s possible there are no hidden rows or columns in the selected area, or the sheet might be protected.
How do I unhide very hidden sheets?
To unhide very hidden sheets, you’ll need to use the VBA editor. In the VBA editor, find the sheet you want to unhide, and change its ‘Visible’ property to ‘xlSheetVisible.’
Can I use a keyboard shortcut to unhide rows and columns?
Yes, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + 9 to unhide rows and Ctrl + Shift + 0 to unhide columns.
Why can’t I find the hidden sheet I’m looking for in the ‘Unhide’ dialog box?
If a sheet is not appearing in the ‘Unhide’ dialog box, it may have been deleted or it is very hidden. Check the VBA editor for very hidden sheets.
Summary
- Open the Excel Workbook.
- Select the Entire Sheet.
- Right-Click and Choose ‘Unhide’.
- Repeat for Other Sheets.
- Unhide Sheets.
Conclusion
Unhiding elements in Excel 2019 is a straightforward process that can save you a lot of frustration when dealing with complex workbooks. Whether you’re revealing hidden rows, columns, or entire sheets, the steps provided in this article should have you managing your data efficiently in no time. Remember to refer back to our tips and frequently asked questions if you encounter any obstacles along the way. With a bit of practice, unhiding everything in Excel 2019 will become second nature, allowing you to work more effectively and with greater clarity. Happy Excel-ing!
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.