How to Unhide Rows in Excel With a Keyboard Shortcut

To unhide rows in Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, select the row headers immediately above and below the hidden rows, then press Ctrl+Shift+9. The hidden rows should reappear. If the hidden rows are at the top of the sheet, select the whole worksheet first, or use Excel’s Unhide Rows command from the ribbon.

What You’ll Need

A workbook open in the desktop version of Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows. The steps also work in many recent desktop versions of Excel.
Permission to edit the worksheet. A protected sheet may prevent rows from being unhidden.
For a Mac, use the Mac shortcut noted below or the ribbon command. In Excel for the web, the ribbon command is the dependable option because keyboard shortcuts can vary with the browser.

Step-by-Step

Find the gap in the row numbers. Look along the left edge of the worksheet. If row numbers jump, such as from 8 to 12, rows 9 through 11 may be hidden. A small double line between row headers can also indicate hidden rows. Note the visible row immediately before and after the gap.
Select the row headers around the hidden block. Click the row number above the hidden rows, hold Shift, then click the row number below them. For example, if rows 9 through 11 are hidden, select the visible headers for rows 8 and 12. Excel should select the full span that includes the hidden rows. If there are several separate hidden blocks, you can repeat the operation for each one.
Press the unhide shortcut. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+9 while the row headers are selected. Use the number-row 9 key, not the numeric keypad, if the keypad does not trigger the command on your keyboard. The shortcut may be described in Excel as Ctrl+Shift+( because Shift+9 produces an opening parenthesis on a US keyboard. The key combination is the same on that layout.
Check that the rows returned. Look at the row numbers and worksheet contents. The missing numbers should now appear in sequence, and the rows should have their previous height. If the gap remains, confirm that you selected the row headers spanning the hidden rows rather than only a cell in the sheet, then try the ribbon route below.
Use the ribbon if the shortcut is inconvenient. Select the row headers that surround the hidden rows. Choose Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Rows. This runs the same basic command without relying on a keyboard layout or shortcut recognition. It is also a useful way to confirm that the problem is simply hidden rows.
Handle rows hidden at the top. Row 1 has no visible row above it to select. Select the whole worksheet using the small Select All button at the top-left corner, where the row and column headings meet, then press Ctrl+Shift+9. You can also select the whole sheet and use Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Rows. If you prefer, enter a range covering the top rows in the Name Box, such as A1:A2, and use the ribbon command. Then verify that row 1 is visible.
Repeat for other hidden ranges as needed. Unhiding one block does not automatically reveal every hidden row elsewhere on the worksheet. Find the next gap in the row numbers, select across it, and use the shortcut again. If you need to reveal all rows, select the entire worksheet and run Unhide Rows once.

On Mac: In Excel for Mac, the commonly used shortcut is Command+Shift+9. Keyboard behavior can depend on the keyboard layout and Excel version, so if it does not work, select the relevant row headers and choose Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Rows. In Excel for the web, use the same ribbon path when available; browser and operating-system shortcuts may take precedence over Excel shortcuts.

Common Mistakes

Selecting only a worksheet cell. A cell selection can make it unclear which rows the command applies to. Select the row-number headers spanning the hidden range so Excel has an unambiguous row selection.
Selecting only one visible row beside the gap. If a group of rows is hidden, include the visible row above and the visible row below the entire group. For instance, if rows 9–11 are hidden, selecting only row 8 may not include the hidden rows in the selection. Extend the selection through row 12.
Using the wrong key combination. On Windows, Ctrl+9 hides selected rows; it does not unhide them. Use Ctrl+Shift+9 to unhide. On a US keyboard, the shortcut may be displayed as Ctrl+Shift+( because the parenthesis is typed with Shift+9.
Expecting Unhide Rows to undo a filter. A filter hides records from view without setting their row height to hidden. Unhide Rows will not bring filtered-out records back. Clear the filter or change its criteria instead.
Assuming every visual gap means hidden rows. A collapsed outline group, a filter, or a very small row height can resemble hidden rows. Check the outline controls, filter indicators, and row-height setting before repeating the shortcut.

Tips

Use the shortcut after selecting row headers. It is often the fastest method for a small, known block of hidden rows. The ribbon command is easier to remember if you do not use the shortcut often.
Reveal every hidden row at once when appropriate. Click the Select All button above row 1 and to the left of column A, then press Ctrl+Shift+9 or choose the ribbon’s Unhide Rows command. This affects the entire worksheet, so avoid it if some rows are intentionally hidden.
Check row height when the shortcut appears to do nothing. A row can be technically visible but set to an extremely small height. Select the affected row headers and choose Home > Format > Row Height, then enter a reasonable positive value, such as 15. Row height can vary depending on formatting and content, so adjust it to suit the sheet.
Use the Name Box for a known location. The Name Box is left of the formula bar. Enter a range that crosses the hidden rows, then use the ribbon’s Unhide Rows command. This is useful when the hidden block is far down the worksheet or row 1 is hidden.
Remember that unhiding does not change cell contents. The command changes visibility, not data. If rows reappear but look empty, check whether the cells contain formulas, whether text is formatted to blend into the background, or whether the relevant columns are also hidden.

Troubleshooting

The shortcut has no effect. First check that the active window is Excel, not another app, and that the worksheet is not protected. Select the row headers across the hidden block again and try Ctrl+Shift+9. If the keyboard layout makes the shortcut awkward, use Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Rows. On some keyboards, the location of the parenthesis key differs, which is another reason to use the ribbon.

The rows are still missing after Unhide Rows. Check whether a filter is active by looking for filter arrows in the column headers. Use Data > Clear to clear the current filter criteria, or open the relevant filter menu and select the records you want to display. If the rows belong to an outline or grouped section, click the plus sign beside the row numbers to expand the group. A minus sign indicates an expanded group. These controls are separate from the ordinary hide-and-unhide command.

The row numbers jump, but Unhide Rows does not restore them. The sheet may be protected, or the rows may be excluded by a filter. If the worksheet is protected, ask the workbook owner for permission or use Review > Unprotect Sheet if you have the password and are authorized to remove protection. After making the rows visible, protect the sheet again if its protection is required. Do not try to bypass protection on a workbook you are not authorized to edit.

The rows seem to return but remain hard to see. Select the row headers in question and open Home > Format > Row Height. Enter a positive height. Also check for hidden columns, font or fill formatting that obscures content, and zoom level. If only some rows in the selected range were hidden, unhide the range first and then set a consistent row height if needed.

You are working in a shared or web workbook. Another editor, a filter view, or a different saved view can affect what you see. Confirm you are in the intended worksheet and view, and check whether a filter is active. Excel for the web may handle keyboard combinations differently because the browser uses some keys; use the ribbon command and check the workbook again in desktop Excel if the sheet still behaves unexpectedly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the keyboard shortcut to unhide rows in Excel?
In Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, select the row headers spanning the hidden rows and press Ctrl+Shift+9. On a US keyboard, Excel may show this as Ctrl+Shift+(.

Can I unhide rows without a mouse?
Yes. Use the Name Box to enter a range that includes the hidden rows, then use the keyboard to reach the ribbon command if your Excel setup supports Key Tips. The shortcut itself is usually simpler: make sure the relevant rows are selected, then press Ctrl+Shift+9. If you cannot reliably select the range by keyboard, the mouse or ribbon is the straightforward alternative.

How do I unhide all rows in a worksheet?
Click the Select All button at the worksheet’s top-left corner, then press Ctrl+Shift+9 or choose Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Rows. This can reveal rows that were intentionally hidden, so check the sheet afterward.

Does Ctrl+Shift+9 work for filtered rows?
No. Rows hidden by a filter are not ordinary manually hidden rows. Clear the filter or adjust its criteria to show those records. The shortcut is for rows hidden through row visibility or a zero-height setting.

Why is row 1 still hidden?
There is no visible row header above row 1 to use as a boundary. Select the whole worksheet with the Select All button, then use Ctrl+Shift+9 or the Unhide Rows ribbon command. If row 1 remains missing, check for a filter, protection, or another view setting.

What if I only want to unhide one row?
Select the visible row headers immediately above and below that row, then press Ctrl+Shift+9. For example, if row 6 is hidden, select rows 5 and 7 as a span so the selection includes row 6, then run the command.

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

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