How to Hide Formulas in Microsoft Excel

How to Hide Formulas in Microsoft Excel

How to Hide Formulas in Microsoft Excel

Formulas are one of the main features of Excel. It allows users to format and create conditions in their documents to easily calculate data entered in any cells. If you’re creating important Excel files where data integrity is a must (such as balance sheets, monetary records, and more), hiding formulas of your document, away from unwanted or accidental editing, is one way you can keep your Excel file accurate and secure.

Hiding Formulas

1.Open the Excel file you want to edit or hide its formulas. Double-click on the file to open it in Microsoft Excel.

2.Click the cell that contains the formula you want to hide. You’ll notice that the cell’s formula and data will be displayed on the Formula Bar, right on top of the Excel spreadsheet.

3.Click on the “Format” button. This is found on the toolbar menu at the upper-right part of the window. A drop-down menu containing a list of formatting options will be displayed.

• For older versions of MS Excel (Office 2003 and earlier), the “Format” button is located on the Menu bar (upper-left area) of the Excel window.

4.Select “Format Cells” from the drop-down list. The Format Cells window will open.

5.Hide the formulas. Click on the “Protection” tab (right-most tab on the window) and put a check on the box beside “Hidden.” Click on “OK” when you’re done.

• This option hides formulas of cells when the spreadsheet is set as “Protected.” You’ll notice that after setting the option to hide the formulas, the formula still shows on the Formula Bar, this is because the spreadsheet still hasn’t been set as protected.