Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Displaying a Hidden First Row.
Excel makes it easy to hide and unhide rows using the menus. What isn't so easy is displaying a hidden row if that row is above the first visible row in the worksheet. For instance, if you hide rows 1 through 5, Excel will dutifully follow out your instructions. If you later want to unhide any of these rows, the solution isn't so obvious.
To unhide the top rows of a worksheet when they are hidden, follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Go To dialog box.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2743) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Displaying a Hidden First Row.
Program Successfully in Excel! John Walkenbach's name is synonymous with excellence in deciphering complex technical topics. With this comprehensive guide, "Mr. Spreadsheet" shows how to maximize your Excel experience using professional spreadsheet application development tips from his own personal bookshelf. Check out Excel 2013 Power Programming with VBA today!
Most of Excel's commands affect whatever cells you select prior to invoking the command. Some commands, however, affect more ...
Discover MoreReferring to a range of cells on the current worksheet is easy. But what if you want to refer to a range on a number of ...
Discover MoreInsert a symbol into a cell, and it should stay there, right? What if the symbol changes to another character, such as a ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2017-03-22 13:21:56
Daniel Lara
great! thanks for the tip!
2017-01-13 07:11:49
saraB
thanks yes unfreeze panes first worked for me too!
2016-09-15 08:34:46
jw
you should preface these instructions with unfreezing panes. if panes are frozen, many functions in Excel are disabled--including page break changes etc. this is the case for unhiding row 1.
2016-08-03 10:22:41
Excel_Freek
It worked, thanks.
2016-07-12 14:24:49
KV
Thank you Mr.John. It worked for me as well.
2016-02-02 06:23:21
Ranjeewa
thanks, Mr John,
It works for unhide, only thing is you have to unfreeze the sheet, otherwise this will not work.
thank you very much.
god bless .
2015-06-23 01:43:42
Brian
Move your cursor up the row numbers to the top until it becomes a double line arrow then double click
2015-05-14 09:37:56
Phil
You may need to unfreeze panes. Under view, Freeze/Unfreeze. Remember to select the entire worksheet first.
2015-05-08 13:23:34
Christina
worked for me after I unfreeze panes
2015-04-18 00:15:10
Andy
Worked for me after removing freeze pan
2015-03-26 12:13:02
Ann
Check you haven't got the freeze pane on, this was what was stopping me seeing row 1-4 :-)
2015-01-15 01:53:20
Ciprian
It works unless you have frozen panes.
2014-12-05 10:56:09
Anna
Sorry this did not work.
The row height say 20 but still unable to see row 1.
Highlighted the spread sheet, increased the row heights. Row 1 is still missing.
2014-10-01 12:28:43
mike
doesnt work
2012-08-23 06:59:14
Rik
Their height can be zero
2012-08-23 06:57:54
Rik
They can be filtered out
2012-05-20 10:53:30
Kristin
I have tried the steps listed in this article, but I still cannot see the first five rows of my spreadsheet. Is there any other reason why the first five rows might not be seen?
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2017 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: 
Comments