Business Tools Blog

Hiding a worksheet is easy, on the toolbar, select Format > Sheet > Hide.  To unhide the sheet select Format > Sheet > Unhide.

But what if you want to hide a sheet so that the average excel user can’t unhide it?   The process is shown below.

Step 1 - Select the Control Toolbox

• View > Toolbars > Control ToolBox

Step 2 - Select Properties

Step 3 - Make the sheet Very Hidden

• Using the Visible Dropdown, select 2 - xlSheetVery Hidden

That’s it, the sheet is very hidden.  Even going back to the properties menu won’t unhide it.

IMPORTANT - The only way to unhide the sheet is to write and use a VBA macro.  (Don’t be scared, it’s only 2 lines of code)

Unhide hidden excel worksheets

Step 1 - Use the Visual Basic Editor to write your Macro

• (ALT+F11) or, on the toolbar, select Tools > Macro > Visual Basic Editor

Step 2 - Double click on the name of the hidden sheet

Step 3 - Type the macro:

Sub UnhideSheet()
Worksheets (”Sheet1″).Visible=True
End Sub

(HINT: “Sub UnhideSheet()” names your macro)
(HINT: “Sheet1″ = the name of the hidden sheet)
(HINT: “End Sub” automaticall appears when you hit enter)

Step 4 - Close VBA

• Click the X in the upper right corner

Step 5 - Run the Macro

• (Alt+F8) or on the toolbar, select Tools > Macro > Macros

• Select the UnhideSheet macro and click Run

The sheet is now unhidden.