How to Fold Columns in Excel: Group & Hide

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Excel (2010 or later, including Microsoft 365)
A worksheet with columns you want to hide temporarily

Step-by-Step

Select the columns – Click the letter header of the first column you want to fold, then drag across to the last column. For example, to fold columns B through D, click the “B” header and drag to “D”.
Open the Group menu – Go to the Data tab on the ribbon. In the Outline group (usually on the right side), click Group. A small dropdown may appear; choose Group… if you see it.
Confirm the grouping – In the dialog box, ensure “Columns” is selected, then click OK. Excel adds a bracket above the selected columns and a minus sign (–) button.
Fold the columns – Click the minus sign (–) button above the group. The columns collapse, leaving a plus sign (+) button. The hidden columns are still there, just folded away.
Unfold the columns – To bring them back, click the plus sign (+) button. The columns reappear exactly as they were.
Create multiple groups – Repeat steps 1–4 for other sets of columns. Each group gets its own bracket and toggle button, so you can fold different sections independently.

Common Mistakes

Selecting entire rows instead of columns – If you click row numbers, you’ll group rows, not columns. Always click the column letters.
Grouping non-adjacent columns – Excel only groups contiguous (side-by-side) columns. If you select columns A and C but not B, Excel may group all three or show an error. Select a continuous range.
Clicking the wrong button – The Group button is on the Data tab, not the Home tab. If you can’t find it, look for the Outline section.
Forgetting to ungroup before deleting – If you delete a column that is part of a group, the group may break. Ungroup first (select the group, then click Ungroup on the Data tab) to avoid issues.

Tips

Use keyboard shortcuts – After selecting columns, press Alt+Shift+Right Arrow to group, and Alt+Shift+Left Arrow to ungroup. This works in most Excel versions.
Collapse all groups at once – Click the number 1 in the top-left corner of the worksheet (the outline bar) to collapse all groups. Click 2 to expand all.
Name your groups – You can’t name groups directly, but you can add a label in a cell above the bracket to remember what’s hidden.
Use for printing – Fold columns before printing to hide extra data without deleting it. The printout will only show the visible columns.
Combine with filters – Grouping works alongside filters. You can filter rows and fold columns simultaneously for a clean view.

Troubleshooting

No Group button visible? – In some Excel versions, the Outline group is hidden. Click the Data tab, then look for a small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Outline group to expand it. If you still don’t see it, your Excel might be in a simplified view; try maximizing the window.

Columns won’t group – error message? – This usually happens when you select entire rows or non-adjacent columns. Re-select only the column letters, and make sure they are next to each other. If you’re trying to group columns A and C, include B as well.

Minus sign doesn’t appear? – The toggle button appears above the group bracket. If you don’t see it, scroll up to the column headers. If it’s still missing, try clicking Group again after selecting the columns.

Grouped columns won’t expand? – Click the plus sign (+). If nothing happens, check that the worksheet isn’t protected. Go to Review > Unprotect Sheet if a password was set.

Fold/unfold works but data is hidden permanently? – This is normal. The columns are not deleted; they’re just hidden. To permanently remove them, select the group, then click Ungroup on the Data tab, then delete the columns normally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fold columns in Excel Online (web version)?

Yes, Excel for the web supports grouping. Select the columns, go to the Data tab, and click Group. The interface is slightly different but works the same.

How do I fold columns without losing the data?

Grouping only hides the columns; the data remains intact. You can always expand the group to see it again. It’s a non-destructive way to tidy your view.

Is there a way to fold columns automatically based on a condition?

No, Excel doesn’t have a built-in feature to auto-fold columns based on cell values. You’d need to use VBA (programming) or manually group them.

Can I fold columns in a pivot table?

Pivot tables have their own collapse/expand buttons for fields, but you can also group columns in a pivot table by selecting them and using the same Group feature on the Data tab.

Why do my grouped columns show a plus sign but not collapse?

This can happen if the worksheet is in page break preview or if the outline symbols are hidden. Go to View > Page Break Preview to see the brackets, or check File > Options > Advanced > Display options for this worksheet and ensure “Show outline symbols if an outline is applied” is checked.

Can I fold columns in Excel on a Mac?

Yes, the steps are the same. On a Mac, the Group button is also on the Data tab. Use Command+Shift+Right Arrow to group and Command+Shift+Left Arrow to ungroup.

Sources: Microsoft Support. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.