Excel auto unhiding columns disrupting workflow

Question

Excel auto unhiding columns disrupting workflow

Brad B 0

I am having trouble with excel automatically unhiding columns that I have hidden. This seems to happen randomly, and I cannot find a common point of failure. Sometimes it happens after only an hour sometimes I can go for four. The files I am working on are on a SharePoint server and I am using the Microsoft 365 web version of Excel on an E1 license. The files are shared but as far as I can see no one else is accessing it. This happens when I am in 'normal' view, a saved custom view, or in a temporary view. It is not a huge disruption, but it is happening about a half dozen times a day. Does anyone have any ideas on how to prevent this?

Thanks for your time

Brad

Ruby Nguyen 3,640 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-11-01T21:09:17.38+00:00

Hi Brad,

I hope you're having a good week.

I'm just checking in to see if there have been any updates on the issue.

Whenever you have an update, I'd be grateful if you could let me know.

Thanks again for your time.

2 answers

Your answer

Ruby Nguyen 3,640 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-11-01T21:09:17.38+00:00

Hi Brad,

I hope you're having a good week.

I'm just checking in to see if there have been any updates on the issue.

Whenever you have an update, I'd be grateful if you could let me know.

Thanks again for your time.

Answer 1

Good day Brad,

Since the workbook is stored in SharePoint and opened in Excel for the web, every change is saved directly to the shared file. A hidden column can become visible again if another active editing session saves the workbook with a different column layout. Also, Sheet Views are mainly designed to keep filters and sorting separate for each user, not hidden columns. Please try the following:

Make sure your browser is up to date. If you're using another browser, such as Chrome, consider downloading and using Microsoft Edge to check whether the issue persists.

Option 1: Clear your browser cache

A corrupted or outdated browser cache can cause Excel for the web to display workbook content incorrectly. I recommend clearing the cache and then testing the workbook again.

Note: The steps below are based on Microsoft Edge. If you're using a different browser, the steps may vary slightly. If you're unable to find the option to clear the browser cache, please let me know which browser you're using and I'll guide you through the correct steps.

Close the workbook.

Open Microsoft Edge and select Settings and more > Settings > Select Privacy, search, and services.

Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.

Set Time range to All time > Select Browsing history > Download history > Cached images and files > You can also select Cookies and other site data, but please note that this will sign you out of websites > Leave Passwords and Autofill form data unchecked.

User's image

Select Clear now.

Restart Microsoft Edge, sign back in to office.com > Select Apps and more and open the workbook again.

User's image

Hide the required columns and monitor whether they remain hidden.

Option 2: Check for another active editing session

Close all browser tabs where the workbook is open.
Ask other users with edit access to close the workbook temporarily.
Open the workbook in a single browser tab.
Hide the required columns and wait until the changes are fully saved.
Monitor the workbook and check whether the columns stay hidden.

This test helps determine whether another session is saving a different column layout to the shared workbook.

Option 3: Review SharePoint Version History

Open the SharePoint library that contains the workbook.
Select the three dots next to the file and choose Version history.
Review the versions created around the time the columns became visible.
Check the Modified By information for the last saved version.
Compare an earlier version with the current one if needed.

Version History can help identify when the change was saved and which account saved it.

Option 4: Protect the worksheet

If the columns need to stay hidden for everyone, you can follow the steps suggested in the AI answer. By disabling the Format Columns permission, users will no longer be able to hide or unhide columns.

Option 5: Test with a new workbook

Create a new workbook in the same SharePoint library > Add some sample data > Hide one or two columns > Keep the workbook open for a similar period > Check whether the columns become visible again.

If the issue only occurs in the original workbook, create a copy of that workbook and test the copy. This helps determine whether the behavior is tied to the workbook itself or to concurrent editing activity.

Option 6: Contact Microsoft Support

If the issue continues in multiple workbooks after all other sessions have been closed, I recommend reaching out to your IT administrator to create a support ticket via Microsoft 365 Admin Center > Support > Help & Support for further backend investigation.

Note: In case you do not know who is your IT admin, kindly refer to this article: How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support

A technical support engineer can perform a remote session to investigate the situation, verify the backend configurations, and run any necessary synchronization tools to resolve the problem. If the issue requires further attention, they can escalate it to a specialized team for deeper analysis.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

If you have any extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Answer 2

There is no verified permanent fix for hidden columns unexpectedly reappearing in Excel for the web; avoid using column hiding as a dependable personal-view setting, and use the desktop app if your organization licenses it.

Microsoft documents that hiding columns in the Default view persists across every Sheet View, while hiding them inside a Sheet View should affect only that view. Excel also does not automatically create or enter a Sheet View when columns are hidden.^1^ Reports involving Excel for the web and SharePoint closely match columns becoming unhidden unexpectedly or after reopening a view.^2^^3^

Most reliable workaround

If desktop Excel is available under another assigned licence:

In the SharePoint library, select the workbook and choose Open → Open in app, or in Excel for the web select Editing → Open in Desktop App.
Hide the required columns.
Save the workbook and leave it stored in SharePoint. Excel for Microsoft 365 supports coauthoring SharePoint-hosted workbooks.^4^
If the columns are intended to be personal rather than hidden for everyone, explicitly enter the required named Sheet View before hiding them.

An E1 licence may not include installable desktop applications. If Open in Desktop App is unavailable, ask the Microsoft 365 administrator whether a desktop-app licence can be assigned; missing installation options can indicate that the assigned licence does not include desktop applications.^5^

If you must remain in Excel for the web

Re-create the view in this exact order:

Select the affected worksheet.
Select View → Sheet View → New.
Confirm that Temporary View is active; an eye icon should appear next to the worksheet tab.
Hide the columns while that view remains active.
Open the Sheet View menu, replace Temporary View with a name, and press Enter.
Switch to another view and back to test it.

Do not hide columns in Default and then expect different named views to preserve different visibility states. A change made in Default applies across all Sheet Views.^1^

If the columns still reappear after these exact steps, that is consistent with the reported web behavior; repeatedly rebuilding the view is unlikely to provide a durable solution.

Determine whether another editor changed the file

The live presence indicator only shows who is editing at that moment. To inspect saved activity:

Close the workbook.
In the SharePoint document library, right-click the file.
Select Version history.
Compare the account and timestamp of versions created around an occurrence.
Open an earlier version for comparison; restore it only if you need to roll back the entire workbook.

SharePoint version history records when a version changed and who produced it.^6^ It may establish that another account saved the workbook, but it will not identify the exact hide/unhide action. Excel’s Show Changes pane also excludes hiding, filtering, and formatting changes.^7^

Optional control when columns must be hidden for everyone

Worksheet protection can prevent editors from manually changing column visibility if Format columns is not allowed. It is not a verified fix for Excel for the web resetting view state, and it does not maintain personal hidden-column layouts.

Apply it only when the columns should remain hidden for every editor:

Hide the columns.
Select Review → Protect Sheet.
Leave Format columns disallowed.
Retain the password securely.

This applies to the protected worksheet and affects all editors.^8^

If the behavior reproduces in a newly created SharePoint workbook with one worksheet, one named Sheet View, and no other editors, have the Microsoft 365 administrator open a support case and provide the workbook URL, occurrence times, browser/version, and minimal reproduction steps.

References