How to unhide top rows in excel

## What is the most common method to unhide top rows in Excel?

The most common method to unhide top rows like Row 1 in Excel is to select the hidden area using the Name Box or Go To dialog, then apply the Unhide command from the Home tab.

### Name Box method

1. Click the Name Box (located left of the formula bar).
2. Type A1 (or 1:3 for multiple rows) and press Enter to select the hidden row(s).
3. Go to Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Rows.

This method works reliably because Row 1 cannot be directly clicked when hidden.

### Go To dialog method

1. Press F5 to open the Go To dialog.
2. Enter 1:5 (adjust the range as needed) and click OK.
3. Select Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Rows.

Users often prefer this method for precision when working with multiple top rows.

### Mouse drag alternative

1. Click the first visible row number (e.g., Row 3).
2. Drag upward to select the hidden rows above.
3. Right-click and choose Unhide.

This intuitive drag technique suits quick fixes but requires a visible row nearby.

## What keyboard shortcuts unhide top rows in Excel?

The primary keyboard shortcut to unhide top rows in Excel is Ctrl + Shift + 9, which reveals any hidden rows within a selected range.

### How the shortcut works

1. Select the range including the hidden top rows by using the Name Box to enter 1:3 (or similar) and pressing Enter, since Row 1 cannot be clicked directly.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + 9 simultaneously to unhide the rows without needing the ribbon.

To unhide all rows in a worksheet, press Ctrl + A twice to select the entire sheet, then press Ctrl + Shift + 9.

### Alternative keyboard shortcuts

1. Alt + H + O + U + R opens the ribbon path sequentially for unhiding rows.
2. Press F5 (Go To), enter 1:5, click OK, then press Ctrl + Shift + 9 for precision on top rows.

## Why do top rows remain hidden after trying standard unhide methods?

Standard unhide methods fail when underlying issues like zero row height, frozen panes, filters, or sheet protection prevent the rows from displaying.

### Common reasons rows stay hidden

1. Zero or tiny row height (e.g., 0 or below 0.07 points) makes rows appear hidden but they are not truly concealed, which blocks standard unhide commands.
2. Frozen panes obscure top rows by the freeze, mimicking hiding behavior.
3. Active filters or grouping hide non-matching rows or collapsed groups.
4. Sheet protection locks the sheet and prevents unhiding without a password.

### Troubleshooting steps

1. Select rows around the top (e.g., via Name Box 1:5), right-click, select Row Height, set to 15 (default), and click OK. This reveals zero-height rows.
2. Unfreeze panes by going to View > Freeze Panes > Unfreeze Panes.
3. Clear filters by going to Data > Clear.
4. Unprotect the sheet by going to Review > Unprotect Sheet.

For persistent issues, select all cells (Ctrl + A twice), then use Format > Row Height or Unhide.

## Does unhiding top rows work differently across Excel versions?

No, there are no major differences in how users unhide top rows across Excel versions for Windows, Mac, or Excel Online. Core methods like Name Box selection (e.g., 1:3) followed by Format > Unhide Rows or Ctrl + Shift + 9 work consistently.

### Windows desktop

Use Ctrl + Shift + 9 after selecting via Name Box or F5 Go To (1:5). The ribbon path is Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Rows. This applies to Excel 2016+ and Microsoft 365 without variation.

### Mac desktop

Methods mirror Windows. Use the Name Box to enter A1 or 1:3, then press Cmd + Shift + 9 (Mac equivalent of Ctrl + Shift + 9) or use ribbon unhiding. The F5 Go To function works identically. Mac users can select all (Cmd + A) then unhide for top rows.

### Excel Online

Excel Online lacks full desktop shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + 9. Users should rely on Name Box selection and Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Rows, or use the right-click context menu after range selection. Frozen panes or filters require View/Data tab equivalents, but top row unhiding follows the same selection-first approach.

## Can you unhide all rows at once in Excel?

Yes, users can unhide all rows at once in Excel, including top rows, by selecting the entire sheet and applying the unhide command.

### Steps to unhide all rows

1. Click the Select All button (triangle at the top-left corner of row/column headers) or press Ctrl + A twice to select the full sheet.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + 9 (fastest method), right-click and choose Unhide, or go to Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Rows.

This method works on Windows and Mac desktop versions and handles top rows without Name Box targeting.

### When to use this approach

1. Large sheets with multiple hidden sections scattered throughout, such as after accidental bulk hiding or data imports with concealed rows.
2. Situations where the location of hidden rows is unknown.
3. Sheets with zero-height rows mimicking hidden rows.
4. Quick resets in analysis workflows before applying filters anew.