Jun 2, 2026

How to Unhide Columns in Excel (2026)

Excel Unhide Columns Spreadsheets How-to Formatting Productivity

A hidden column shows up as a skipped letter in the header (e.g., the sequence jumps A, B, D) and a slightly thicker border between columns. Unhiding it takes a couple of clicks — except column A, which needs a small trick. Here’s every case.

1. Unhide a Column Between Two Others

Select the column to the left of the hidden one and drag to the column to its right, so both surrounding columns are highlighted.
Right-click the selected headers and choose Unhide.

The hidden column reappears. (You can also double-click the thin border between the two visible headers.)

2. Unhide Column A

Column A has nothing to its left, so you can’t bracket it. Instead:

In the Name Box (left of the formula bar), type A1 and press Enter — this selects the hidden column A.
Go to Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Columns.

Column A reappears.

3. Unhide All Columns at Once

Select the entire sheet — click the corner button above row 1, or press Ctrl+A.
Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Columns (or right-click any column header and choose Unhide).

Every hidden column comes back.

4. The Shortcut

With the surrounding columns selected, press:

Windows: Ctrl + Shift + 0
Mac: the menu method above is most reliable (the shortcut is sometimes claimed by the operating system).

5. Troubleshooting

The column still won’t show

Its width may be set to 0 rather than hidden. Select across it, then Home > Format > Column Width, type a value like 8.43, and click OK.

Ctrl+Shift+0 does nothing

The shortcut is disabled by default in some Windows setups. Use the right-click Unhide or the Format menu instead.

Columns are “frozen,” not hidden

If columns won’t scroll into view, they may be frozen. Go to View > Freeze Panes > Unfreeze Panes.

Whole sheet looks cut off

You might be filtering, not hiding. Check Data > Filter and clear any active filters.

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