How to show hidden first column or row in Excel?
In general, you can select the cells which are on the hidden column or row’s either sides, and then click Home > Format > Hide & Unhide to display the hidden column or row as below screenshot shown. However, if the first column or row whose two sides’ cells you cannot select is hidden, how can you display such column or row in Excel?
Show hidden first column/row with Go To function
Show hidden first column/row with Kutools for Excel 
Show hidden first column/row with Go To function
To show hidden first column or row, you need to use Go to function to locate in A1, and then display the row or column.
1. Enable the sheet you want to display the first column or row, and press Ctrl + G to open Go To dialog, and enter A1 into the Reference textbox. See screenshot:
2. Click OK to locate in A1, and then click Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Columns/ Unhide Rows. See screenshot:
Then the first column or row has been unhidden.
Show hidden first column/row with Kutools for Excel
If you have Kutools for Excel, its Unhide All Ranges utility can quickly unhide all hidden columns and rows.
Enable the sheet you want to show all hidden ranges, and click Kutools > Show & Hide > Unhide All Ranges. See screenshot:
Now all hidden ranges have been shown.
Which Method Should You Use?
| Feature | Go To Function | Kutools Unhide All Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Unhiding the hidden first column or first row with Excel’s built-in tools | Quickly displaying all hidden rows and columns in a worksheet |
| Can target first row/column | Yes | Yes |
| Shows all hidden ranges | No; restores the selected hidden row or column | Yes; restores all hidden rows and columns at once |
| Manual selection required | Requires locating cell A1 first | No complex selection is required |
| Main advantage | Built into Excel and requires no additional software | Restores all hidden ranges with one command |
| Recommended use | Best when only the first row or column needs to be restored | Best when the worksheet contains multiple hidden rows or columns |
Conclusion
When the first row or column is hidden in Excel, restoring it can be less straightforward because there is no visible row or column on both sides to select.
Use Excel’s built-in Go To function when you only need to restore the first row or column. If the worksheet contains multiple hidden rows and columns, Kutools for Excel’s Unhide All Ranges provides a faster way to display all hidden ranges at once.
Tip: The Go To method is ideal for a specific hidden first row or column, while Unhide All Ranges is more efficient when several hidden areas need to be restored.
Choose the method based on whether you need to reveal a single hidden edge row or column, or restore multiple hidden ranges throughout the worksheet.
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