Google Sheets are one of the most used apps for creating charts, lists, etc. So why is it so popular? Because its interface is free of unnecessary icons and generally very easy to learn. Its functionality is very convenient and logical, so you don’t have to study the program for a long time. Pluses are its cloud service and the fact that your work can be viewed in real-time by your colleagues and even (if you allow it) edited and supplemented. This way of working is very convenient, especially when you work remotely.
How to hide cells in Google Sheets document
Google Sheets is suitable for professional use as well as for personal purposes in earlier situations. However not everything can be known perfectly the first time and you need to get used to it. And if you have a question about how to hide a cell with Google Sheets – then the answer you will find in this article.
Quite often it’s necessary to hide any part of the list or just simplify them visually. It seems that to hide a cell is easy, but in fact, unfortunately, Google Sheets doesn’t provide this function yet and it’s unknown whether such an option will be available in the future. However, nevertheless, there is still an alternative that allows you to hide either a column or a row. Or it’s possible to combine them. This function applies to all rows and columns. You can hide them and open them again at any time in order to add more details to your project, presentation, etc.
So that your tables don’t seem cluttered and you’re more comfortable navigating in your document, you can hide rows using this tutorial:
- Start by logging into the Google Sheets official website
- Right-click a row or column header. Or you can use an arrow located on a row or a column header
- Select Hide row or Hide column
The column is hidden from view. Nothing is deleted, and its values can still be referenced by formulas, but they won’t appear on the spreadsheet.
In order to open a column or row again, you need to put the cursor in the middle of the columns or rows, where the desired row or column is hidden. For example, if you have hidden column B, you can find it between A and C.
All columns and columns are in alphabetical order, and rows are in ascending numerical order. This means that you will not be confused if you need to find a hidden column.
When you put the cursor between columns or rows, there will be two arrows in front of you (down and up or right and left, depending on whether you’re hiding a column or row), and you need to carefully press so that these arrows become active (i.e. have a white background behind) and then just click on any of them and voila, your column or row will again open for public viewing.
How to lock cells in Google Sheets
The thing is that you can’t block certain cells in Google Sheets either, but you can block rows and columns. This is very convenient, especially when you give other people access to edit the table. To avoid accidental edits, you only need to follow these steps:
- Select the range and then open the Data menu
- Scroll down to the Protected Sheets and Ranges option and click on it
- The Protected Sheets and Ranges sidebar will appear to the right
- In the sidebar, you can add an optional description for the range. Edit the range to ensure you’re protecting the right cells
- Click on the green Set Permissions button and the Range Editing Permissions dialog will appear
- Select if you want to restrict who can edit the range or warn users who edit the range. With this protection option, you can choose who can edit the protected range. By default only you and the spreadsheet owner can edit the range, or only you if you’re the spreadsheet owner. You can also choose specific users by selecting the Custom option
- Click Done
And that’s all on how you can manage your Google Sheets cells, rows, and columns.
