How you expand all rows in Excel for Office 365 depends on why they’re collapsed. If rows are grouped (you’ll see + and – buttons on the left), click the highest outline number at the top-left, like 2 or 3, or choose Data > Show Detail with the whole sheet selected. If rows are hidden, select the whole sheet with Ctrl + A, right-click any row number, and choose Unhide. If rows are just too short to show their contents, choose Home > Format > AutoFit Row Height.
Here’s how to handle each case, plus pivot tables and filtered data.
Which situation do you have?
| What you see | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| + buttons and numbers 1, 2, 3 left of the row numbers | Grouped rows (outline) | Click the highest level number |
| Row numbers skip (like 4, then 9) with a double line | Hidden rows | Select all, then right-click > Unhide |
| Row numbers are blue and have a filter arrow in the header | Filtered data | Data > Clear |
| Text is cut off | Row height too small | AutoFit Row Height |
How to expand all grouped rows
- Look for the small outline numbers above the row numbers on the left.
- Click the highest number, like 2 for one level of grouping or 3 for two. Every group opens.
Or select the whole sheet (Ctrl + A, or click the triangle at the top-left corner of the grid), then click Data > Show Detail in the Outline group. To collapse everything again, click 1 or choose Hide Detail.
To remove the grouping entirely, select the rows and click Data > Ungroup > Clear Outline.
How to unhide all rows
- Press Ctrl + A (press it twice if your cursor is inside a table) or click the Select All triangle.
- Right-click any row number and choose Unhide.
You can also use Home > Format > Hide & Unhide > Unhide Rows, or press Ctrl + Shift + 9. If rows still don’t appear, their height may be set to 0. Select all and use Home > Format > Row Height, then enter 15.
How to make all rows tall enough to show their content
- Select all cells with Ctrl + A.
- Click Home > Format > AutoFit Row Height.
Or double-click the border below any selected row number. For wrapped text, make sure Home > Wrap Text is turned on first.
How to show all filtered rows
Click Data > Clear in the Sort & Filter group. The filter arrows stay, but every row appears. Click Filter to remove the arrows too.
How to expand all rows in a pivot table
Click a row label in the pivot table, then choose PivotTable Analyze > Expand Field. Or right-click a row label and choose Expand/Collapse > Expand Entire Field.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a shortcut to expand grouped rows?
Clicking the outline numbers is the fastest way. For grouping itself, Alt + Shift + Right arrow groups selected rows and Alt + Shift + Left arrow ungroups them.
Why is Unhide grayed out?
The sheet might be protected. Click Review > Unprotect Sheet first, if you have the password.
Does this work in Excel for the web?
Yes. Grouping, Unhide, and AutoFit all work in Excel for the web, with slightly different menus.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.