Excel Keyboard Shortcut to Hide a Column

In Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, select one or more column headers and press Ctrl+0 to hide those columns. On a Mac, the equivalent is Command+0; to show hidden columns again, select the columns around them and use the Unhide command.

The Windows shortcut and what it does

Ctrl+0 hides every selected worksheet column, not just the active cell’s column. For example, if columns C and D are selected, pressing the shortcut hides both. The cells and their contents remain in the workbook: hiding changes the columns’ display width to zero rather than deleting data.

To use it, click a column letter at the top of the worksheet, or select a range of column letters, and then press the keys together. You can select columns that are not next to each other by holding Ctrl while clicking their headers. The shortcut applies to the active worksheet; it does not hide columns on every sheet in the workbook.

One column: select its letter, such as D, and press Ctrl+0.
A continuous range: select the first header, then hold Shift and select the last header.
Separate columns: hold Ctrl while selecting each header, then press the shortcut.

If you select cells rather than column headers, Excel still hides the entire column or columns that contain the selection. Selecting the headers first makes the scope obvious and reduces the chance of hiding more than intended.

How to select the columns you want to hide

Column letters are the clearest way to make a selection. Click a letter such as F to select all of column F. Drag across adjacent letters to select a range, or click the first letter and Shift-click the last. Then press Ctrl+0. Excel hides the selected columns while leaving the remaining columns in place.

You can also select columns from a cell. Click a cell in the target column and press Ctrl+Space to select that worksheet column, then press Ctrl+0. If the active cell is inside an Excel table, selection behavior can depend on the table context, so selecting the worksheet column header is a more dependable choice when the goal is to hide the entire column.

For example, suppose a worksheet contains employee names in A, departments in B, salaries in C, and notes in D. If you want to conceal the salary column while reviewing the sheet, click the C header and press Ctrl+0. Columns A, B, and D remain visible. This changes presentation only; formulas that refer to column C continue to use its values.

How to unhide a column

A hidden column has no visible width, so its letter is not shown in the header row. To reveal it, select the visible columns on both sides of the hidden one, right-click one of the selected headers, and choose Unhide. If B is hidden, select A and C together, right-click either selected header, and choose Unhide. The hidden column returns at its previous position.

For a group of hidden columns, select visible headers that span the hidden range. If B, C, and D are hidden, selecting A through E and choosing Unhide reveals the hidden columns within that selection. If the first column, A, is hidden, there is no visible column to select on its left. Use the Name Box, to the left of the formula bar, to enter A:A and press Enter; then use the ribbon’s Unhide Columns command.

There is also a Windows keyboard shortcut, Ctrl+Shift+0, for unhiding columns in Excel. It may not work on some Windows configurations because the key combination can be reserved or affected by regional keyboard settings. If it fails, use the header-selection method or the ribbon command rather than assuming the column is gone.

Use the ribbon when the shortcut is unavailable

The mouse-based command is available in Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows at Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Hide Columns. Select the target columns before opening the menu. To restore columns, select the surrounding headers and choose Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Columns.

This route is useful when a keyboard shortcut is intercepted, when you are helping someone who does not use shortcuts, or when you want to confirm which action Excel is applying. The menu distinguishes hiding columns from hiding rows and from hiding an entire sheet. Hiding a sheet is a separate operation and does not use Ctrl+0.

If the ribbon is collapsed, the Home tab is still available; expand the ribbon or use its search feature to find the Hide Columns command. Menu labels can be localized in non-English editions of Excel, but the underlying operation is the same.

Common shortcut problems and checks

If Ctrl+0 appears to do nothing, check the selection and then try the ribbon command. The shortcut acts on selected worksheet columns; it will not hide a column if the intended range was not selected or if a different window has focus. Some keyboards or operating-system utilities may also intercept key combinations.

Check the column boundary. A hidden column is often signaled by a jump in the letters, such as A, C, D, which indicates B may be hidden.
Check for a very narrow column. A column reduced to a tiny width can look hidden. Select it and use Home > Format > Column Width to assign a visible width.
Check worksheet protection. Protection settings can prevent formatting changes, including hiding or unhiding columns. If the command is unavailable, ask the workbook owner about the protection settings.
Try the ribbon. If the ribbon’s Hide Columns command works but the shortcut does not, the issue is likely the key combination or keyboard environment rather than the worksheet data.

Hiding a column is not a security measure. A workbook recipient may unhide it, copy its contents, or inspect the data in other ways. Do not use column hiding to protect confidential information; remove sensitive data or use appropriate access controls instead.

When hiding columns is useful

Hiding is a practical way to make a wide worksheet easier to read without removing information. You might temporarily hide internal calculations while presenting a summary, hide helper columns used by a lookup, or conceal less relevant fields while printing or reviewing a report. Since the data remains in place, formulas and references ordinarily continue to work.

Consider a sales report with visible columns for product, region, and revenue, plus helper columns for a commission rate and intermediate calculation. Hiding the helper columns can make the report easier to scan. If a formula in a visible total refers to a hidden column, that formula still calculates; hiding affects display, not the formula’s inputs.

Keep in mind that hidden columns can be overlooked by someone editing the workbook. Add a note or use a clear worksheet layout if collaborators need to know that supporting data exists. Before sharing a file, check whether hiding is appropriate for the audience and whether the underlying information should be removed instead.

Hide columns versus related Excel features

Hiding a column is different from deleting it. Deleting removes the column and shifts other cells or columns; hiding preserves its position and contents. It is also different from filtering: a filter hides rows that do not meet criteria, while Ctrl+0 hides whole columns. Use filtering when you want to display only matching records, not when you want to conceal fields.

Grouping columns is another option for worksheets where users need to expand and collapse sections repeatedly. Select the columns and use Data > Group to add an outline control. Unlike a simple hide operation, grouping displays a control that makes the collapsed section easier to identify and reopen. It is helpful for reports with detail and summary columns, but unnecessary for a one-time hide.

Freeze Panes does not hide columns either. It keeps selected rows or columns visible while you scroll through the worksheet. If your goal is to keep an identifier column on screen while moving horizontally, use View > Freeze Panes rather than hiding that column.

Differences on Mac and Excel for the web

In Excel for Mac, select the column headers and press Command+0 to hide the selected columns. The corresponding unhide shortcut is Command+Shift+0, though the ribbon or a context menu is a useful fallback if the key combination is unavailable on a particular keyboard setup. Excel for Mac also provides hide and unhide commands through its ribbon and column-header context menu.

Excel for the web runs in a browser, where keyboard shortcuts can vary with the browser, operating system, and current selection. If Ctrl+0 does not perform the expected action, select the column headers and use the available Hide Columns command from the Home ribbon or the header context menu. The desktop Windows shortcut is the primary shortcut described here; do not assume every browser will pass the same key combination to Excel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Excel shortcut to hide a column?
On Windows, select the column or columns and press Ctrl+0. On Mac, use Command+0.

How do I unhide a column in Excel?
Select the visible column headers on both sides of the hidden column, right-click a selected header, and choose Unhide. On Windows, Ctrl+Shift+0 may also work, but system settings can block it.

Does hiding a column delete its data?
No. Hiding changes the column’s visibility, not its contents. The data remains in the workbook and can still be used by formulas.

Why does Ctrl+0 not work in Excel?
The shortcut may be intercepted by your keyboard or system settings, or the intended columns may not be selected. Try Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Hide Columns.

Can I hide several columns at once?
Yes. Select multiple column headers, including a continuous range or separate headers, and use the hide shortcut. Excel hides each selected whole column.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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