How to Collapse Columns in Excel

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to collapse multiple columns in your Microsoft Excel spreadsheet using the “Group” tool.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid9245726-v4-728px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can do this on your Mac or PC by double-clicking the file. [1]
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/aid9245726-v4-728px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    To do this, click the letter above the first column, then drag the mouse to include the second column. Both columns should now be highlighted. [2]
    • If you don’t want to collapse two entire columns, just select the cells you want to collapse (rather than selecting the column letters).
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/35\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/35\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/aid9245726-v4-728px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It’s at the top of Excel.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/aid9245726-v4-728px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It’s near the top-right corner of the screen in the “Outline” group. [3]
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5b\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5b\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid9245726-v4-728px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you don’t see a “Group” pop-up, just skip to the next step. [4]
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/aid9245726-v4-728px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It’s on the left side of the gray bar above your spreadsheet. The columns will collapse and “-“ will turn to a “+.”
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b4\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b4\/Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/aid9245726-v4-728px-Collapse-Columns-in-Excel-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    [5]
    8. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Recover a Corrupt Excel File
      How to Merge Cells in Microsoft Excel: A Quick Guide
      Easily Create a Drop-Down List in Microsoft Excel: Setup & Customization
      How to Use If‐Else in Microsoft Excel: Step-by-Step Tutorial
      How to
      Unprotect an Excel Sheet
      How to Create a Graph in Excel
      How to Fix Ethernet Doesn't Have a Valid IP Configuration on Windows
      How to
      Link Sheets in Excel
      How to
      Create a Mortgage Calculator With Microsoft Excel
      How to
      Make a Spreadsheet in Excel
      How to
      Insert Pictures in Excel That Automatically Size to Fit Cells
      How to Unhide Multiple Rows in Microsoft Excel
      How to Combine Columns in Excel Without Losing Data
      How to Create an Inventory List in Microsoft Excel: Step-by-Step Guide
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/open-files-from-the-file-menu-97f087d8-3136-4485-8e86-c5b12a8c4176
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/select-cell-contents-in-excel-23f64223-2b6b-453a-8688-248355f10fa9
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/group-or-ungroup-shapes-pictures-or-other-objects-a7374c35-20fe-4e0a-9637-7de7d844724b
      4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/outline-group-data-in-a-worksheet-08ce98c4-0063-4d42-8ac7-8278c49e9aff
      5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/outline-group-data-in-a-worksheet-08ce98c4-0063-4d42-8ac7-8278c49e9aff

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open your spreadsheet.
      2. Select the columns.
      3. Click the Data tab.
      4. Click Group .
      5. Select Columns and click OK .
      6. Click – to collapse.
      7. Click + to uncollapse.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 244,571 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement