Shortcut to select visible cells only in Excel
The keys
| Shortcut | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Select only the visible cellsWindows: press F5 (or Ctrl+G), choose Special, then Visible cells only. | —No Windows shortcut in Microsoft's list | Shift+Command+* |
| Go to a cell or range (Go To)Type a reference such as B14 or a range name, then press Enter. | Ctrl+G or F5 | Control+G or F5 |
Checked against Microsoft's official lists on . Where Microsoft lists a key for one platform only, the other column says so instead of guessing.
When you need it
When rows or columns are hidden by hand or grouped, copying the range normally copies the hidden ones too. Select visible cells only first and the paste contains only what you see. In a filtered list, current Excel versions already copy only the visible rows, but selecting visible cells first is the safe habit.
Copy and paste visible cells
Select the range, select visible cells only, press Ctrl+C, then click the destination and Ctrl+V. The pasted rows arrive together, without gaps.
Pasting into a filtered range is a different problem: Excel pastes into hidden rows too. Paste somewhere unfiltered, or sort so the target rows sit together.
Sum only the visible cells
For a total that ignores hidden and filtered rows, use SUBTOTAL(109, range) or AGGREGATE. See summing visible cells only.
Why a shortcut sometimes does nothing
Non-US keyboards
Microsoft's lists are written for the US keyboard layout and say that keys on other layouts might not correspond exactly. Shortcuts named after a symbol, such as Ctrl+;, Ctrl+` or Ctrl+Shift+$, are the ones most likely to sit somewhere else or not work. When one does nothing, use the ribbon route on its task page instead.
Related shortcuts
| Shortcut | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Turn filters on or off How to: Excel filter shortcut Turning filters off also clears every filter, so all rows show again. | Ctrl+Shift+L | Command+Shift+F or Control+Shift+L |
| Hide the selected rows How to: Shortcuts to hide and unhide rows and columns in Excel | Ctrl+9 | Control+9 or Command+( or Control+( |
| Copy the selection | Ctrl+C | Command+C or Control+C |
FAQ
What is the shortcut to select visible cells only?
Shift+Cmd+* on a Mac. On Windows, F5 > Special > Visible cells only, or the widely used Alt+;.
Why does copying a filtered range paste hidden rows?
In current Excel it should not. If it does, the rows were hidden by hand or grouped, not filtered: select visible cells only before copying.
Can I copy only visible cells in Excel for the web?
Microsoft says the option is not available there, so hidden rows are copied too. The exception is a table with a filter applied: then only the visible rows are copied.
Related guides
- How to sum only visible cells in ExcelUse =SUBTOTAL(109,E2:E11).
- How to remove blank rows in ExcelSelect a column that every real row fills in (such as Email), press F5 > Special > Blanks > OK, then go to Home > Delete > Delete Sheet Rows.