Filtering a column in Google Sheets hides the rows you don’t need, for example to show only one region, orders over $500, or tasks marked “Open,” without deleting any data. Sheets offers four ways to do this: a regular filter, filter views that don’t affect other people, slicers for dashboards, and the FILTER function for results in a separate range. This guide covers each one step by step, plus filtering by condition and color, on the web and on phones.
Quick Answer
Click any cell in your data and choose Data > Create a filter. Filter icons appear in the header row. Click the icon in the column you want and use Filter by values (check only the items to show) or Filter by condition. Then click OK. To remove it, choose Data > Remove filter.
Which Filtering Method Should You Use?
| Method | Changes what others see? | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Filter (Data > Create a filter) | Yes, for everyone viewing the sheet | Quick filtering on your own sheets |
| Filter view | No. Only you see it, and it can be saved and shared by link. | Shared sheets, saving several filter setups |
| Slicer | Yes | Dashboards with a clickable filter control |
| FILTER function | No. Results appear in a new range. | Reports, live filtered lists on another tab |
Method 1: Create a Filter
- Click any cell inside your data range. Make sure the first row contains headers.
- Choose Data > Create a filter, or click the filter icon in the toolbar.
- Click the filter icon in the column header you want to filter.
- Choose a filter type:
- Filter by values: click Clear, then check the values to show.
- Filter by condition: choose a rule such as Greater than, Text contains, Date is after, or Is not empty, and enter the value.
- Filter by color: show rows with a specific fill or text color.
- Click OK.
Filtered columns show a funnel icon, and hidden row numbers are skipped. You can filter several columns at once. Rows must match every column’s filter to appear.
Useful Filter Conditions
| Goal | Condition |
|---|---|
| Amounts over 500 | Greater than > 500 |
| Names containing “smith” | Text contains > smith |
| Dates this month or later | Date is after > exact date |
| Hide blank rows | Is not empty |
| Complex rules | Custom formula is, for example =OR(B:B="West",B:B="South") |
Method 2: Filter Views (Don’t Disturb Collaborators)
- Choose Data > Filter views > Create new filter view. The sheet border turns dark gray.
- Name the view in the bar at the top, for example “West region.”
- Set filters on any columns as in Method 1.
- Close the view with the X at the top right. It’s saved automatically.
Open saved views from Data > Filter views. Each view has its own URL, so you can share a link that opens the sheet already filtered. People with view-only access can create temporary filter views for themselves.
Method 3: Add a Slicer
- Select the data range and choose Data > Add a slicer.
- In the Slicer panel, choose the Column to filter.
- Move the slicer box where you want it. Click its drop-down to filter by values or condition.
Slicers also filter charts and pivot tables that use the same data range, which makes them great for dashboards.
Method 4: The FILTER Function
To show filtered results in another place without hiding rows, use a formula. For example, in a new tab:
=FILTER(A2:D, B2:B="West")shows only rows where column B is West.=FILTER(A2:D, D2:D>500, B2:B="West")requires both conditions (AND).=FILTER(A2:D, (B2:B="West")+(B2:B="East"))matches either condition (OR).=SORT(FILTER(A2:D, B2:B="West"), 4, FALSE)filters, then sorts by column 4, largest first.
The results update automatically when the source data changes. If nothing matches, you get #N/A. Wrap the formula in IFERROR(..., "No matches") to show a message instead.
Filter on the Google Sheets App
- Open the sheet and tap a cell in your data.
- Tap ⋮ (More) > Create a filter.
- Tap the filter icon in a column header and choose values or a condition.
- Tap the check mark to apply.
Clear or Remove Filters
- Clear one column: open its filter menu and click Select all, then OK.
- Remove the whole filter: choose Data > Remove filter.
- Close a filter view: click the X at the top right.
Seeing a thick gray bar under your header row? That’s a freeze line, not a filter. See what the gray bar in Google Sheets is.
To point out key results visually, insert shapes and arrows in Google Sheets.
Troubleshooting
Some rows aren’t included in the filter
The filter covers only the range it detected, and a blank row can cut it off. Remove the filter, select the full range (or whole columns), and create it again.
Create a filter is greyed out
You may have view-only access. Use Filter views instead, or ask for edit access.
Other people say rows are missing
A regular filter hides rows for everyone. Remove it and use a filter view for your own work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I filter by more than one column?
Set filters on each column. Only rows matching all of them are shown.
Does filtering delete data?
No. It only hides rows. Remove the filter to see everything again.
Can I copy only the filtered rows?
Yes. Select the visible range and copy it. Google Sheets copies only the visible rows when a filter is applied.
Summary
- Choose Data > Create a filter and use the header icons.
- Filter by values, condition, or color, and click OK.
- Use Filter views on shared sheets.
- Add a slicer for dashboards, or use
=FILTER()for live results elsewhere. - Choose Data > Remove filter to clear it.
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.