Hide / Show Objects in Excel

Excel allows you to hide or show objects such as shapes, charts, images, and text boxes. This is useful for focusing on data or preparing worksheets for printing.

How to Hide or Show Objects

1. Go to the File tab and select Options
2. In the Advanced category, scroll down to Display options for this worksheet
3. Use the dropdown for Show objects:
   • All – Display all objects
   • None – Hide all objects
   • Placeholders – Show placeholders instead of full objects
4. Click OK to apply changes

Tips & Best Practices

• Use hiding objects for printing clean worksheets
• Combine with Snap to Grid to maintain layout integrity when showing objects again
• Temporarily hide objects while performing calculations or formatting for clarity

FAQ

Q: Can I hide specific objects instead of all?

Yes, select the object and press Ctrl + 1 to format and hide individually.

Q: Will hidden objects print?

No, objects hidden via Display options will not appear in the printed worksheet.

Q: Can I toggle hidden objects quickly?

You can use the dropdown in Excel Options or temporarily hide with Ctrl while selecting.