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How to hide formula bar contents in Excel?

Author Siluvia Last modified

In some cases, you may not want to display cell contents, such as formulas, in the formula bar. In this article, we will show you two methods of hiding formula bar contents in Excel.

Hide formula bar contents with the Format Cells function
Hide formula bar contents with Kutools for Excel

Hide formula bar contents with the Format Cells function

You can hide the formula bar contents with the Format Cells function, please do as follows.

1. Select the range with cells’ contents or formulas you want to hide in the formula bar.

2. Right click on the selection, and then click Format Cells in the right-clicking menu. See screenshot:

A screenshot showing the Format Cells option in Excel's right-click menu

3. In the Format Cells dialog box, check the Hidden box under the Protection tab.

A screenshot of the Format Cells dialog box in Excel, with the Hidden option selected under the Protection tab

4. Then click Review > Protect Sheet.

A screenshot showing the Protect Sheet option under the Review tab in Excel

5. In the popping up Protect Sheet dialog box, enter the password and click the OK button, then a Conform Password dialog box pops up, reenter your password and then click the OK button. See screenshot:

A screenshot of the Protect Sheet dialog box, requiring a password to hide formula bar content in Excel

Then the selected cells’ contents are hidden immediately in the formula bar.

Hide formula bar contents with Kutools for Excel

With Kutools for Excel, you can easily hide formula bar contents in Excel. Please do as follows.

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1. Click Kutools Plus > Worksheet Design to enable the Design tab. 

A screenshot showing the Worksheet Design option under Kutools Plus in Excel

2. Select the cells you want to hide the contents in the formula bar, and then click Hide Formulas under Design tab. Click the OK button in the popping up dialog.

A screenshot of the Hide Formulas option under the Design tab

3. Click Protect Sheet under Design tab, then enter the password and confirm it into the next popping up two dialog boxes.

A screenshot showing Protect Sheet under the Design tab

From now on, the selected cells’ contents (includes formulas) will not display in the formula bar until the worksheet is unprotected. 

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