Skip to main content

How to hide or unhide columns based on drop down list selection in Excel?

Author Siluvia Last modified

While using Excel, you can hide or unhide specific columns based on the selection of a drop down list. For example, if you select No in the drop down list, column C to I will be hidden, but if you select Yes, the hidden columns C to I will be unhidden. See below screenshot shown.
In this article, we will show you a VBA method to hide or unhide columns based on drop down list selection in Excel.

hide or unhide columns based on drop down list

Hide or unhide columns based on drop down list selection in Excel


Hide or unhide columns based on drop down list selection in Excel

As above example mentioned, to hide or unhide columns C to I based on the drop down list selection, please do as follows.

1. First, create your drop down list with Yes and No which you need.

2. Then press Alt + F11 to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Application window.

3. Double click the current open sheet name in the VBAProject section to open the Code editor.

4. Then copy and paste below VBA code into the Code editor.

copy and paste the vba code into the sheet module

VBA code: hide or unhide columns based on drop down list selection

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
'Updated by Extendoffice 20180822
    If Target.Column = 2 And Target.Row = 3 Then
        If Target.Value = "No" Then
            Application.Columns("C:I").Select
            Application.Selection.EntireColumn.Hidden = True
        ElseIf Target.Value = "Yes" Then
            Application.Columns("C:I").Select
            Application.Selection.EntireColumn.Hidden = False
        End If
    End If
End Sub

Note: In the above code, Column = 2 and Row = 3 is the cell reference of the drop down list, and the range C:I is the columns that you want to hide or unhide, .please change them to your need.

5. Press Alt + Q keys simultaneously to exit the Microsoft Visual Basic for Application window.

From now on, when you select No in the drop down list, all specified columns are hidden.

 select No in the drop down list, all specified columns are hidden

But if you select Yes in the drop down list, all hidden columns are displayed immediately.

select Yes in the drop down list, all hidden columns are displayed

a screenshot of kutools for excel ai

Unlock Excel Magic with Kutools AI

  • Smart Execution: Perform cell operations, analyze data, and create charts—all driven by simple commands.
  • Custom Formulas: Generate tailored formulas to streamline your workflows.
  • VBA Coding: Write and implement VBA code effortlessly.
  • Formula Interpretation: Understand complex formulas with ease.
  • Text Translation: Break language barriers within your spreadsheets.
Enhance your Excel capabilities with AI-powered tools. Download Now and experience efficiency like never before!

Related articles:

Best Office Productivity Tools

🤖 Kutools AI Aide: Revolutionize data analysis based on: Intelligent Execution   |  Generate Code  |  Create Custom Formulas  |  Analyze Data and Generate Charts  |  Invoke Kutools Functions
Popular Features: Find, Highlight or Identify Duplicates   |  Delete Blank Rows   |  Combine Columns or Cells without Losing Data   |   Round without Formula ...
Super Lookup: Multiple Criteria VLookup    Multiple Value VLookup  |   VLookup Across Multiple Sheets   |   Fuzzy Lookup ....
Advanced Drop-down List: Quickly Create Drop Down List   |  Dependent Drop Down List   |  Multi-select Drop Down List ....
Column Manager: Add a Specific Number of Columns  |  Move Columns  |  Toggle Visibility Status of Hidden Columns  |  Compare Ranges & Columns ...
Featured Features: Grid Focus   |  Design View   |   Big Formula Bar    Workbook & Sheet Manager   |  Resource Library (Auto Text)   |  Date Picker   |  Combine Worksheets   |  Encrypt/Decrypt Cells    Send Emails by List   |  Super Filter   |   Special Filter (filter bold/italic/strikethrough...) ...
Top 15 Toolsets12 Text Tools (Add Text, Remove Characters, ...)   |   50+ Chart Types (Gantt Chart, ...)   |   40+ Practical Formulas (Calculate age based on birthday, ...)   |   19 Insertion Tools (Insert QR Code, Insert Picture from Path, ...)   |   12 Conversion Tools (Numbers to Words, Currency Conversion, ...)   |   7 Merge & Split Tools (Advanced Combine Rows, Split Cells, ...)   |   ... and more
Use Kutools in your preferred language – supports English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and 40+ others!

Supercharge Your Excel Skills with Kutools for Excel, and Experience Efficiency Like Never Before. Kutools for Excel Offers Over 300 Advanced Features to Boost Productivity and Save Time.  Click Here to Get The Feature You Need The Most...


Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier

  • Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
  • Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
  • Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!