How to Unhide a Worksheet in Excel 2013: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Have you ever opened an Excel workbook only to realize that one or more worksheets are missing? Don’t worry — they’re probably just hidden. In Excel 2013, Microsoft provides several ways to hide and unhide worksheets, which is handy when you want to organize or protect your data.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about unhiding worksheets in Excel 2013, including step-by-step methods, shortcuts, and troubleshooting tips.

Why Worksheets Get Hidden in Excel 2013

There are several reasons why worksheets might be hidden in your Excel file:

  • To keep sensitive or confidential data out of plain sight.

  • To make the workbook look cleaner by showing only necessary sheets.

  • Hidden by accident while navigating menus.

  • Set to “Very Hidden” by another user via VBA (so you can’t unhide it easily).

Difference Between Hidden and Very Hidden Worksheets

  • Hidden worksheet → Can be unhidden using built-in options like the Ribbon or right-click.

  • Very Hidden worksheet → Can only be unhidden through the VBA Editor.

This distinction is crucial because if a sheet doesn’t appear in the Unhide dialog box, it’s likely “very hidden.”

Method 1: Unhide Using the Ribbon

The Ribbon in Excel 2013 makes it easy to unhide sheets.

Steps:

  1. Go to the Home tab on the Ribbon.

  2. In the Cells group, click Format.

  3. Under Visibility, select Hide & Unhide.

  4. Click Unhide Sheet….

  5. In the Unhide dialog box, select the sheet you want to restore.

  6. Click OK.

Method 2: Unhide Using Right-Click on Sheet Tabs

This method is faster and more intuitive.

Steps:

  1. Look at the sheet tabs at the bottom of the Excel window.

  2. Right-click on any visible tab.

  3. Select Unhide.

  4. Choose the sheet you want from the list.

  5. Click OK.

Method 3: Unhide with Format Menu Options

Another way is through the Format drop-down menu.

Steps:

  1. Go to the Home tab.

  2. Click the Format button in the Cells group.

  3. Under Hide & Unhide, select Unhide Sheet.

  4. Pick the hidden worksheet from the dialog box.

  5. Press OK.

Method 4: Unhide All Sheets Using VBA (Macro)

Excel 2013 doesn’t have a built-in option to unhide all worksheets at once, but you can use VBA.

Steps:

  1. Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA Editor.

  2. Click Insert → Module.

  3. Copy and paste this code:

    Sub UnhideAllSheets()
    Dim ws As Worksheet
    For Each ws In ThisWorkbook.Worksheets
    ws.Visible = xlSheetVisible
    Next ws
    End Sub

  4. Press F5 to run the macro.

  5. All hidden worksheets will reappear instantly.

How to Unhide “Very Hidden” Worksheets

If a worksheet doesn’t appear in the unhide dialog box, it’s probably “Very Hidden.”

Steps:

  1. Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA Editor.

  2. In the left pane, expand VBAProject (YourWorkbookName).

  3. Select the sheet you want to unhide.

  4. In the Properties window, find the property Visible.

  5. Change it from xlSheetVeryHidden to xlSheetVisible.

  6. Close the VBA Editor.

Keyboard Shortcut for Unhiding Worksheets

Unfortunately, Excel 2013 doesn’t have a direct keyboard shortcut for unhiding sheets, but you can use:

  • Alt → H → O → U → H → This opens the Unhide dialog box.

Then you can select the sheet and press Enter.

Troubleshooting: What If the Worksheet Won’t Unhide?

If you still can’t see your sheet:

  • Check if it’s Very Hidden (use VBA Editor).

  • Ensure the sheet isn’t protected by workbook structure (Review → Protect Workbook).

  • Confirm that the file isn’t corrupted.

  • Try saving the workbook as a new file and reopening.

Best Practices for Managing Worksheets in Excel 2013

  • Use descriptive names for sheets.

  • Hide sheets only when necessary.

  • Document why a sheet is hidden (especially in shared workbooks).

  • Use Protect Workbook if you don’t want others to unhide sheets.

Quick Comparison Table of Methods

Method Difficulty Can Unhide All Sheets? Best For
Ribbon (Format → Unhide) Easy No Beginners
Right-Click on Tabs Very Easy No Quick access
Format Menu Easy No Users familiar with menus
VBA Macro Moderate Yes Power users with many sheets
VBA Properties (Very Hidden) Moderate Yes Advanced hidden sheet recovery

Conclusion

Unhiding worksheets in Excel 2013 is straightforward once you know where to look. You can use the Ribbon, right-click, or Format menu for standard hidden sheets. For multiple sheets or “Very Hidden” sheets, VBA provides the most powerful solution.

By mastering these methods, you’ll save time, stay organized, and never wonder where your data disappeared again.

FAQs

1. How do I unhide multiple sheets at once in Excel 2013?
Use a VBA macro — Excel doesn’t allow selecting multiple sheets in the Unhide dialog box.

2. Why can’t I see my sheet in the Unhide dialog box?
It’s probably marked as “Very Hidden.” Use the VBA Editor to make it visible.

3. Is it possible to prevent others from unhiding a sheet?
Yes. Use Protect Workbook under the Review tab to lock hidden sheets.

4. Can I use a shortcut to unhide a sheet quickly?
Yes. Press Alt → H → O → U → H to open the Unhide dialog box.

5. Does this method work in newer versions of Excel?
Yes. The steps are almost identical in Excel 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365.

✅ Key Takeaway: In Excel 2013, unhiding a worksheet is as easy as a right-click or as advanced as using VBA. Once you know the methods, you can control exactly what’s visible in your workbook.

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