Excel Rows Won’t Unhide | Fast Fix Guide

Stuck with rows that refuse to appear? This guide shows every cause and the exact fix. You’ll spot the issue fast, pick the right remedy, and get back to work without breaking your sheet.

Rows In Excel Won’t Unhide — Fixes That Work

When rows stay hidden, it’s rarely random. Excel is following a rule: a filter hides records, a row height set to 0 keeps them out of sight, outline groups collapse details, a protected sheet blocks changes, or frozen panes pin the top in place. Use the checks below, then run the matching fix.

Quick Diagnosis Matrix

Symptom	Likely Cause	Fast Check
Row numbers jump (e.g., 5 → 8)	Hidden rows or filter	Look for filter icons on headers
Top row won’t show	First row hidden or frozen	Try Unfreeze Panes; select Name Box “A1”
Unhide does nothing	Row height = 0	Select sheet, set Row Height to a value
Minus/plus buttons at left	Outline grouping	Click level numbers or plus signs
“Unhide” greyed out	Protected sheet	Review tab → check Protect Sheet
Only header row shows	Filter applied	Data tab → Clear
Print shows rows, screen doesn’t	Filter or custom view	Remove filters; check View → Custom Views
Some rows show as decimals (e.g., “4.5”)	Manual height tweak	Reset height for the selection

Step-By-Step Fixes

Run these in order. Each step is safe for most workbooks. If one doesn’t help, move to the next.

1) Clear Any Filters

Filters hide rows that don’t meet the criteria. Clearing them brings all records back into view.

1. Select a cell in the range or table.
2. Go to Data → Clear (Sort & Filter group).
3. Or toggle Filter off to remove all filters at once.

Tip: If table headers show filter funnels, you still have active filters. Remove them first to reveal every row.

2) Reset Row Height For The Sheet

If row height is set to 0, unhide commands won’t help. Reset the height directly.

1. Click the square at the top-left of the sheet to select all.
2. Right-click a row header → Row Height…
3. Enter a sensible value (15–20 is common), then press Enter.

Now try scrolling. If you can see the missing lines again, you’ve fixed it.

3) Expand Any Outline Groups

Collapsed groups hide detail. The plus/minus buttons along the left margin toggle detail rows.

1. Click a + next to the hidden range, or press the highest level number above the row headers.
2. To show all detail, choose the deepest level (e.g., 3).

4) Unfreeze Panes

Frozen panes can hold the first row in place and make it seem missing when you scroll.

1. Go to View → Freeze Panes → Unfreeze Panes.
2. Scroll to check whether the rows appear.

5) Reveal Row 1 When It’s Hidden

Row 1 can be tricky, since you can’t select a row above it.

1. Click the Name Box (left of the formula bar), type A1, press Enter.
2. Use Home → Format → Hide & Unhide → Unhide Rows.

That selects the first cell, which lets the unhide command target the top row.

6) Remove Sheet Protection (If Present)

When a sheet is protected, unhide actions may be blocked.

1. Go to Review → Unprotect Sheet.
2. Enter the password if one was set.

After that, repeat the unhide step or reset heights as needed.

7) Check Custom Views

Custom Views can store hidden states for rows and filters.

1. Open View → Custom Views.
2. Apply a view that shows all data, or Delete a view that hides rows.

8) Repair A Stubborn Selection

Still stuck? Target the range around the gap and reset it.

1. Select the row above and below the hidden block.
2. Right-click a row header → Unhide; if that fails, set a row height value.
3. Press Ctrl+Shift+9 to show hidden lines for the selection.

Keyboard Shortcuts That Save Time

• Ctrl+Shift+9: show hidden rows in the current selection.
• Alt → H → O → U → R: unhide rows via the ribbon path.
• Alt → D → F → F: toggle filter on or off.

Why Rows Disappear In The First Place

Knowing the cause helps you stop repeats. Here’s what usually triggers the problem:

Filters Hide Non-matching Records

When a column has active filters, Excel only shows items that match. That hides entire rows that don’t meet the rule.

Row Height Set To Zero

This happens during bulk formatting or after certain macros. Height values of 0 or near 0 make rows invisible to unhide commands.

Outline Groups Collapse Detail

Groups let you roll up detail for a cleaner view. Collapsed detail rows remain hidden until you expand the level.

Sheet Protection Blocks Changes

Protection can allow edits to some features while blocking others. If hiding and showing isn’t allowed, unhide won’t work until you remove the lock.

Frozen Panes Mask The Top

Freezing headers is handy, but it can trick the eye. Unfreezing brings the full scroll back and helps you see whether Row 1 is actually hidden.

Pinpoint The Case With Simple Tests

Run these quick spot checks when you’re unsure which path to take:

• Do header cells show tiny funnels? Clear filters.
• Do you see +/− buttons at the left? Expand groups.
• Is Unhide greyed out? Remove protection.
• Does the top stay fixed while you scroll? Unfreeze panes.
• Do row numbers skip? Reset height, then unhide.

Trusted How-To Links (Mid-Article)

You can find official step lists here:
Excel: hide or show rows or columns
and
clear or remove a filter.

Common Scenarios With Exact Fixes

Only The Header Row Appears

Clear filters. If the dataset is a table, reapply the table filter toggle to show all rows. Then check row height for any remaining gaps.

The First Row Is Missing

Use the Name Box method (type A1), then unhide. If that fails, unfreeze panes first, then try again.

Unhide Works On Some Rows, Not Others

Mixed causes are at play. Select the whole sheet and set a uniform row height. After that, unhide works as expected.

Group Buttons Keep Collapsing Detail

Choose a higher outline level to show more detail, or remove grouping if you don’t need it. Data → Ungroup.

Protected Workbook

Check both the sheet and the workbook structure. If the structure is locked, you may not be able to change sheets or views until it’s unlocked.

Fix By Situation (Cheat Sheet)

Situation	Steps At A Glance	Extra Tip
Hidden by filter	Data → Clear; toggle Filter off	Check each header menu for active rules
Row height = 0	Select all → Row Height → set value	Try 18–20 for easy reading
First row missing	Name Box A1 → Unhide	Unfreeze Panes if needed
Outline collapsed	Click “+” or level number	Data → Ungroup to remove
Protected sheet	Review → Unprotect Sheet	Re-apply with allowed actions if required
Frozen header trick	View → Unfreeze Panes	Refreeze after you confirm visibility

Make The Fix Stick

Keep Filters Obvious

• Turn on filter icons only when needed.
• Add a tiny note above the table: “Filter active.”

Standardize Row Height

• Pick a default height for data sheets.
• Use Wrap Text only where needed, since it can expand heights unevenly.

Use Groups With Levels

• Set clear levels (e.g., 1 = totals, 2 = months, 3 = daily lines).
• Train your team to use the level buttons instead of manual hiding.

Protect With The Right Options

• When protecting a sheet, allow formatting of rows if users need to show or hide.
• Keep the password where your team can find it safely.

Troubleshooting Flow You Can Re-Use

1. Check for filters and clear them.
2. Set a visible row height for the sheet.
3. Expand groups to the deepest level.
4. Unfreeze panes.
5. Reveal the first row via A1 selection.
6. Remove sheet protection.
7. Check custom views.

Quick FAQ-Style Notes (No Extra Questions)

Do I Lose Data When I Unhide?

No. Hiding changes visibility only. Unhiding brings data back without edits.

Why Does Unhide Appear Greyed?

Either nothing is selected that’s hidden, or the sheet is protected. Select a range that spans the gap, or remove the lock.

Can A Macro Force Rows To Stay Hidden?

Yes. If a macro runs on open, it can apply filters or set heights. Disable macros, reopen, then test the steps above.

Print And Share Ready

Before you hand off the workbook, run the flow once. That way every reader sees the same rows you intend to show.