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How to only hide part of cell value in Excel?

Author Sun Last modified
A screenshot showing partially hidden social security numbers in Excel
Supposing you have a sheet with some general information about the staff, but some are private such as social security numbers. Now you want to hide part of these social security numbers as below screenshot shown, how can you quickly solve it?

Partially hide social security numbers with Format Cells

Partially hide text or number with formulas

arrow blue right bubble Partially hide social security numbers with Format Cells

To hide part of social security numbers in Excel, you can apply Format Cells to solve it.

1. Select the numbers you want to hide partially, and right click to select Format Cells from context menu. See screenshot:
A screenshot of the Format Cells option in Excel

2. Then in the Format Cells dialog, click Number tab, and select Custom from Category pane, and go to enter this 000,,"-**-****" into the Type box in right section. See screenshot:
A screenshot of the Format Cells dialog

3. Click OK, now partial numbers you selected have been hidden.

Note: it will round up the number if the forth number is larger than or eaqul to 5.

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arrow blue right bubble Partially hide text or number with formulas

With above method, you only can hide partial numbers, if you want to hide partial numbers or texts, you can do as below:

Here we hide first 4 numbers of the passport number.

Select one blank cell next to the passport number, F22 for instance, enter this formula ="****" & RIGHT(E22,5), and then drag autofill handle over the cell you need to apply this formula.
A screenshot showing the Excel formula used to partially hide passport numbers by masking digits

Tip:

If you want to hide last four numbers, use this formula, = LEFT(H2,5)&"****"

f you want to hide middle three numbers, use this =LEFT(H2,3)&"***"&RIGHT(H2,3)

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