# How to hide rows and columns in Google Sheets on Mac: browser steps and shortcuts

> How to hide rows and columns in Google Sheets on Mac with the right-click menu, ⌘ ⌥ 9, and ⌘ ⌥ 0. Covers unhiding and the filter trap.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/hide-rows-and-columns-in-google-sheets
Updated: 2026-11-06

To hide a row or column in Google Sheets on Mac, select it, right-click the selection, and choose Hide row or Hide column. The shortcut is ⌘ ⌥ 9 for rows and ⌘ ⌥ 0 for columns, and ⌘ ⇧ 9 or ⌘ ⇧ 0 brings them back.

## Quick answer

- Select the row number or column letter, right-click the selection, and choose Hide row or Hide column.
- Hold ⌘ while you click to select several rows or columns, then hide them in one step.
- Use ⌘ ⌥ 9 to hide a row and ⌘ ⌥ 0 to hide a column. Use ⌘ ⇧ 9 and ⌘ ⇧ 0 to bring them back.
- To show hidden rows again, click the arrow in the gap. Rows hidden by a filter need a different fix.

Applies to: Google Sheets in Chrome or Safari on macOS. Time: 3 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- A Mac with Google Sheets open in Chrome or Safari
- Your Google account signed in, with access to the spreadsheet
- The row numbers or column letters you want to hide

## How to Hide and unhide rows and columns in Google Sheets on Mac in Google Sheets on a Mac

1. **Open the sheet in your browser.** Google Sheets on a Mac runs in your web browser. Google's product page does not mention a separate Mac app, so open the spreadsheet in Chrome or Safari. Sign in to the Google account that can open the file. You should see row numbers down the left side and column letters across the top, because you click those to select. Tip: Row numbers and column letters are the handles for every step below. If they are not visible, the view has changed.
2. **Select the row or column.** Click the row number on the left, or the column letter across the top. The whole row or column turns highlighted. A click on a single cell selects only that cell, so aim for the number or letter, not the grid itself. Check the highlight before you go on.
3. **Right-click and choose Hide row or Hide column.** (Right-click selection > Hide row) With the selection still highlighted, right-click the row number or column letter. A menu opens. Choose Hide row for a row, or Hide column for a column. Google's help page names these two items and does not show a separate View or Format path for hiding.
4. **Check the arrow in the gap.** The row or column disappears from view. Look at the row numbers or column letters. Where the hidden item used to sit, a small arrow now marks the gap. The arrow is your way back, and it shows the data is still in the file. Tip: If you hid something by mistake, click the arrow to show it again.
5. **Hide several rows or columns at once.** Hold ⌘ while you click each extra row number or column letter. Google's help page says to hold the command key to select several. When every target is highlighted, right-click one of them and choose Hide row or Hide column. Every selected row or column hides in one step.
6. **Hide with the keyboard shortcut.** Shortcut: ⌘ ⌥ 9 or ⌘ ⌥ 0. Select the row or column, then press ⌘ ⌥ 9 to hide a row. Press ⌘ ⌥ 0 to hide a column. Google's keyboard shortcut table lists these keys for Mac. Use the shortcut once you know the menu steps, because it is faster when you hide rows all day.
7. **Show the hidden rows again.** Shortcut: ⌘ ⇧ 9. Click the arrow in the gap between the row numbers or column letters. To use the keyboard, press ⌘ ⇧ 9 for a row or ⌘ ⇧ 0 for a column. If the arrow is gone or the rows still do not return, read the troubleshooting list, because the rows may be filtered.

Hiding a row or column does not delete it. The data stays in the sheet, and the row number or column letter just leaves the view. People hide rows when a sheet has old drafts, helper columns, or notes they need to keep but do not want to see every day. This guide covers the Mac steps, the keyboard shortcuts, how to bring rows back, and the one case where hiding works differently than you expect.

![Person at a MacBook reviewing a spreadsheet, the kind of work where you learn how to hide rows and columns in Google Sheets on Mac](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/hide-rows-and-columns-in-google-sheets/how-to-hide-rows-and-columns-in-1-8ccf3d.jpg)

## Hide a row or column with the right-click menu

Start by selecting what you want to hide. Click the row number on the left edge, or the column letter across the top. The whole row or column turns highlighted. Then right-click the highlighted area. Choose Hide row when you selected a row, or Hide column when you selected a column. The row or column leaves the view, and a small arrow appears where it was. That arrow is your way back.

## Hide several rows or columns at once

Hold the Command key while you click to pick more than one row or column. Google's help page says to hold the command key to select several. Say rows 4, 9, and 15 are old drafts. Click the number 4, hold ⌘, then click 9 and 15. Right-click any of the three highlighted numbers and choose Hide row. All three rows hide in one step. Columns work the same way. Select columns B, D, and F, then choose Hide column once.

> **Check the highlight:** Before you right-click, look at what is highlighted. If an extra row or column is selected, click the first number once to start the selection over. A stray selection hides rows you meant to keep.

## A worked example: hiding helper columns in a budget sheet

Take a budget sheet with a column of raw bank notes in F and G. You need those notes for reference, but they clutter the view. Click F, hold ⌘, and click G. Right-click one of the two letters and choose Hide column. Both columns vanish. The gap sits between E and H, with one arrow. Click that arrow when you need the notes again. Nothing was deleted, so the values are still in the file.

## Hide rows and columns with the keyboard on Mac

If you hide rows often, the shortcuts save more time than the menu. Google's keyboard shortcut table lists ⌘ ⌥ 9 for Hide row and ⌘ ⌥ 0 for Hide column. Select the row or column first, then press the keys. The 9 key handles rows, and the 0 key handles columns. Bringing things back uses Shift in place of Option, so ⌘ ⇧ 9 unhides a row and ⌘ ⇧ 0 unhides a column. Learn the pair, and the menu becomes a backup.

> **Control or Command?:** Some third-party guides list Control with Option and the number keys for Mac. Google's table lists Command with Option. Start with ⌘ ⌥ 9. If nothing happens, check the shortcut list inside Sheets before you decide the shortcut is broken.

## How to unhide rows and columns in Google Sheets

A hidden row leaves a gap in the numbers. If row 7 is hidden, the row numbers jump from 6 to 8, and an arrow sits in that gap. Click the arrow to show row 7 again. Columns work the same way. A hidden column leaves an arrow between two column letters. Click it to bring the column back. You can also press ⌘ ⇧ 9 for rows or ⌘ ⇧ 0 for columns. If the arrow is missing, read the troubleshooting list, because the rows may be filtered instead.

## Hidden rows versus filtered rows

This is where people get stuck. A filter hides rows that do not match a condition you set. Hidden rows and filtered rows both leave the screen, but they are different features. Some third-party guides say Unhide does not bring back rows that a filter hid. Google's own filter help page was not confirmed for this guide, so test the idea on a copy of your sheet. If a filter is the cause, removing the filter is the likely fix, according to third-party guides. You can learn more in [how to add a filter in Google Sheets on Mac to one range](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/add-a-filter-to-a-range-in-google-sheets).

| Method | What it does | How rows come back |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hide row or column | Removes rows from view and keeps the data | Click the arrow in the gap, or press ⌘ ⇧ 9 or ⌘ ⇧ 0 |
| Filter | Hides rows that do not match a condition | Change or remove the filter, for example from the Data menu |
| Delete row or column | Removes the rows and their data from the sheet | No gap or arrow is left, so there is nothing to click |

_Three ways rows leave the screen, and how each one returns._

## Grouping rows as a different way to tuck them away

Grouping is a separate feature, though Google's help page covers it next to hiding. A group adds a control that collapses or expands a set of rows. Google's Mac shortcut table lists ⌥ ⇧ → to group and ⌥ ⇧ ← to ungroup. It lists ⌥ ⇧ ↓ to expand and ⌥ ⇧ ↑ to collapse. Use groups when you want to fold rows open and shut again. Use hiding when a row should stay out of view until you decide otherwise.

## Mistakes people make when hiding rows

- Hiding a row to delete it. The data stays in the sheet. Look for the arrow before you assume the row is gone.
- Clicking a cell instead of the row number. The menu hides only the selected cell, not the whole row. Click the number on the left instead.
- Pressing Control with Option. Google's table lists Command with Option, so start there.
- Expecting Unhide to bring back filtered rows. Check for an active filter first.
- Hiding the header row. Labels disappear, and the data becomes hard to read. Keep the top row visible.
- Sharing a file and assuming hidden rows are private. Anyone who opens the file can click the arrow.

## Limits to know about before you hide

Hiding does not make a sheet smaller, because the data stays in the file. Google Drive Help says a spreadsheet created in or converted to Google Sheets allows up to 20 million cells or 100MB. Large sheets run into those limits sooner than small ones. Hiding helps you read a big sheet. It does not free up room under the limit.

- **20 million** cells allowed in one spreadsheet created in or converted to Google Sheets ([source](https://support.google.com/drive/answer/37603))
- **100MB** file size limit for the same spreadsheets, per Google Drive Help ([source](https://support.google.com/drive/answer/37603))

Excel files add one more check. When an Excel document converts to Google Sheets, any cell with more than 50,000 characters is removed. If your hidden rows came from a workbook with long text in single cells, compare the converted sheet with the original. Google Drive Help lists this limit with the other file size rules.

## Where Lazur fits

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac. Hold ⌥ ⌘, which means Option and Command, and ask about anything on screen. Ask where the Hide row item is, and Lazur draws a circle and a label around it. Ask how to do something, and Lazur guides you one click at a time, waiting for each click. Lazur does not click for you. You do the clicking, and Lazur tells you what comes next. There is a Pro trial with no credit card. See [pricing](https://www.lazur.app/pricing) for plans.

![Laptop screen showing a long spreadsheet grid, where hidden rows leave a small arrow in the row numbers](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/hide-rows-and-columns-in-google-sheets/how-to-hide-rows-and-columns-in-2-19c8b7.jpg)

## What to do next after you hide rows and columns

Hiding is often the first step in tidying a sheet, not the last. If the labels should stay put while you scroll, read [how to freeze the top row in Google Sheets on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/freeze-the-top-row-in-google-sheets). To keep a column in view, see [how to freeze columns in Google Sheets on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/freeze-columns-in-google-sheets). When you need the visible rows in a new order, go to [how to sort data by column in Google Sheets on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/sort-data-by-column-in-google-sheets). If a hidden row turns out to be a duplicate, [how to remove duplicate rows in Google Sheets on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/remove-duplicate-rows-in-google-sheets) covers that case.

## Shortcuts

- Hide row: ⌘ ⌥ 9
- Unhide row: ⌘ ⇧ 9
- Hide column: ⌘ ⌥ 0
- Unhide column: ⌘ ⇧ 0
- Group rows or columns: ⌥ ⇧ →
- Ungroup rows or columns: ⌥ ⇧ ←
- Expand a group: ⌥ ⇧ ↓
- Collapse a group: ⌥ ⇧ ↑

## If it does not work

- **The shortcut does nothing on my Mac** Make sure the row or column is selected, then press ⌘ ⌥ 9 again. Some third-party guides list Control with Option. Google's table uses Command with Option. If the keys still fail, use the right-click menu, which the steps above cover.
- **The arrow to unhide is missing** Try ⌘ ⇧ 9 for rows or ⌘ ⇧ 0 for columns. If nothing returns, the rows are probably filtered. Open the Data menu and look for a filter or a Remove filter item. Some guides say removing the filter is the fix.
- **Unhide does not bring back some rows** Those rows may be hidden by a filter, which is a separate feature. Third-party guides say to remove the filter. Google's filter help page was not confirmed for this guide, so check on a copy of the sheet before you change the original.
- **A row seems to have vanished with no arrow** A gap with an arrow means hidden rows. No arrow means the rows may have been deleted. Check the [revision history](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/see-revision-history-in-google-sheets) before you make more changes, so you can see what happened.
- **Excel data looks cut off after conversion** Cells with more than 50,000 characters are removed when an Excel file converts to Google Sheets. Compare the converted sheet with the original file, and check long text cells before you hide or share the sheet.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Where's the Hide row option?”: Lazur draws a circle and a label around Hide row, and you click it yourself. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Is there a native Google Sheets app for Mac?

Not that Google's pages show. Google Sheets on a Mac runs in the browser, and Google's product page does not mention a native Mac desktop app. Open the sheet in Chrome or Safari. Some third-party guides describe install workarounds, but those are not from Google, so check them carefully.

### What is the shortcut to hide a row in Google Sheets on Mac?

Select the row, then press ⌘ ⌥ 9. Google's keyboard shortcut table lists this for Hide row on Mac. Hide column uses ⌘ ⌥ 0. If the shortcut does nothing, check that the whole row is selected first.

### How do I unhide a row in Google Sheets on Mac?

Click the small arrow in the gap where the row number used to be. You can also press ⌘ ⇧ 9. For a column, click the arrow between the column letters or press ⌘ ⇧ 0. If no arrow shows, the rows may be filtered instead.

### Does hiding a row delete the data?

No. The data stays in the sheet, and only the view changes. Anyone who can open the file can click the arrow and show the row again. Do not hide data you want to keep private.

### Can I hide several rows at once?

Yes. Hold ⌘ while you click each row number. Then right-click one of the selected numbers and choose Hide row. Every selected row hides in one step, and the same method works for columns with Hide column.

### Why will Unhide not show some of my rows?

Those rows may be filtered rather than hidden. Some third-party guides say Unhide does not bring back filter-hidden rows, and that removing the filter fixes it. Google's filter page was not confirmed for this guide, so test on a copy first.

### What is the difference between hiding and grouping?

Hiding removes rows from view, and an arrow brings them back. Grouping adds a control that collapses and expands a set of rows. Google's Mac table lists ⌥ ⇧ → to group and ⌥ ⇧ ← to ungroup.

### Does Lazur hide rows for me?

No. Lazur guides and points. It does not click buttons or operate other apps for you. Ask where Hide row is, and Lazur circles it on screen. Then you click it yourself.

## Sources

1. [Freeze, group, hide, or merge rows & columns: Computer, Google Docs Editors Help](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/9060449?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop), Google, checked 2026-11-07
2. [Keyboard shortcuts for Google Sheets: Computer, Google Docs Editors Help](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/181110?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop), Google, checked 2026-11-07
3. [Google Sheets: Google Workspace](https://workspace.google.com/products/sheets/), Google, checked 2026-11-07
4. [Google Drive Help: file size and import limits](https://support.google.com/drive/answer/37603), Google, checked 2026-11-07