How to delete rows in excel

Answer

To delete rows in Excel, select the row(s) you want to remove, right-click on the row number, and choose "Delete" from the context menu. The selected rows disappear immediately, and the rows below shift up to fill the space.

Methods of Deleting Rows

Using Right-Click Menu

1. Click on the row number on the left side of the worksheet to select the entire row
2. Right-click on the selected row number
3. Select "Delete" from the menu

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows: Press Ctrl + - (minus key) after selecting the row

Mac: Press Control + - (minus key) after selecting the row

Using Ribbon Commands

1. Select the row by clicking its row number
2. Navigate to the Home tab
3. Click the "Delete" dropdown in the Cells group
4. Select "Delete Sheet Rows"

How to Delete Multiple Rows at Once

To delete multiple rows simultaneously, select all the rows you want to remove before applying the delete command.

Selecting Consecutive Rows

1. Click on the first row number
2. Hold down the Shift key
3. Click on the last row number in the range
4. Right-click and select "Delete"

Selecting Non-Consecutive Rows

1. Click on the first row number
2. Hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac)
3. Click on each additional row number you want to delete
4. Right-click and select "Delete"

How to Delete Blank Rows

Blank rows can clutter your worksheet and affect data analysis.

Using Go To Special

1. Select the entire data range or press Ctrl + A to select all
2. Press F5 or Ctrl + G to open the Go To dialog box
3. Click "Special" at the bottom of the dialog box
4. Select "Blanks" and click OK
5. Right-click on any selected blank cell
6. Choose "Delete" and select "Entire row"
7. Click OK

Using Filter Method

1. Select your data range including headers
2. Click "Filter" in the Data tab
3. Click the dropdown arrow in any column
4. Uncheck "Select All" and check only "Blanks"
5. Select the visible blank rows by clicking the row numbers
6. Right-click and select "Delete Row"
7. Remove the filter to view your cleaned data

How to Delete Rows Based on Criteria

Deleting rows that meet specific conditions helps maintain data quality.

Using AutoFilter

1. Select your data range
2. Click "Filter" in the Data tab under Sort & Filter group
3. Click the dropdown arrow in the column containing your criteria
4. Select the values you want to delete
5. Select the filtered rows by clicking the row numbers
6. Right-click and choose "Delete Row"
7. Clear the filter

Using Find & Replace

1. Press Ctrl + F to open Find dialog
2. Enter the value you want to find
3. Click "Find All"
4. Press Ctrl + A to select all found instances
5. Close the Find dialog
6. Right-click on any selected row number
7. Choose "Delete"

Common Issues When Deleting Rows

Hidden Rows Get Deleted

When you delete visible rows in a filtered range, hidden rows remain intact. Excel only deletes the rows you can see and have selected.

Formulas Break After Deletion

Formulas referencing deleted rows return #REF! errors. Update formulas to reference the correct new row numbers, or use structured references with Excel tables to maintain formula integrity.

Undo Limitations

Excel stores deletion actions in the undo stack. Press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac) to restore deleted rows immediately after deletion. The undo function becomes unavailable after you save and close the workbook.

Difference Between Delete and Clear

Deleting rows removes them entirely from the worksheet, causing rows below to shift upward and changing row numbers. Clearing rows removes only the content but keeps the rows in place with their original row numbers. Use Clear when you want to remove data but maintain worksheet structure, and use Delete when you need to remove rows completely.

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