How to Hide Confidential Data in Excel – 5 Methods

The dataset contains employees’ information. To hide sensitive information like phone numbers:

Method 1 – Applying Custom Cell Formatting to Hide Confidential Data

• Select F9.
• Press CTRL+1 to open the Format Cells dialog box.
• Choose Custom in Number.
• Enter three semicolons (;;;) in Type.
• Click OK.

The phone number will be hidden, but the Formula Bar will still show it. You can hide the Formula Bar in the View tab by unchecking it.

Method 2 – Changing the Cell Font Color

• Change the font color to the background color. Cell content will be invisible.

Method 3 – Using Helper Columns

To hide a portion of data only:

• Enter the following formula in G5.
• Drag down the Fill Handle.

This is the output.

• Right-click column H and select Hide.

This is the final output.

Method 4 – Protect the Worksheet to Hide Sensitive Data

• Go to the Review tab and select Protect Sheet.

• Enter a password and click OK.

• Reenter the password and click OK.

• This is the output.

You can also hide cell content in the Formula Bar: Hide cells before protecting the sheet.

• Select the cells and press CTRL+1.
• Go to the Protection tab in Format Cells.
• Check Locked and Hidden.
• Click OK.

Protect the worksheet and the cell content will not be visible in the Formula Bar.

Read More: How to Hide Part of Text in Excel Cells

Method 5 – Hide the Excel Worksheet

• Right-click the worksheet tab and select Hide.

• It can be unhidden by other users.

Protect the workbook or hide the sheet using VBA:

• Press ALT+F11 to open the VBA window.
• Select the worksheet.
• The Properties window will be visible below (otherwise, enable the feature in the View tab).
• Choose 2 – xlSheetVeryHidden in Visible using the dropdown arrow.

The unhide option will be grayed out.

Read More: How to Hide Cells in Excel Until Data Entered

Download Practice Workbook

Download the practice workbook.

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