How to Select Visible Cells Only in Excel?

In Microsoft Excel, we can easily copy the range of cells and paste it to some destination.

This can simply be done using the following steps.

1. Select the range of the cell 
2. Copy the selected range using Ctrl + C command 
3. Paste the copied cell to the destination using Ctrl + V command

But imagine a situation where we have some cells that are hidden in the range (like in the below example).

In the above data, rows 4 to 7 are hidden. 

Now, if I copy this data that has hidden rows and paste it a few rows below it, something weird happens.

The hidden rows are also copied and pasted (as shown below)

By default, Excel copies the visible and hidden cells as shown in the above screenshot. So how to overcome this and only select the visible cell?

This tutorial will guide you through all the methods using which you can select the visible cell only in Excel. 

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut to Select Visible Cells Only

This is the easiest method to copy and paste the visible cell only in Excel.

Below is the keyboard shortcut to select the visible cells only:

ALT + ; (for windows)

or

Cmd + Shift + Z (for mac)

Let me explain it with the help of an example in which I am going to use the below dataset, where we have some Employee records with rows 4-7  hidden. 

Let’s see how we can select the visible cell only. To achieve this, follow the below  steps

1. Select the range of data that you want to copy.

2. Press the shortcut ALT + ; from the keyboard (hold the ALT key and then press the semicolon key). Remember the command for Mac users is Cmd + Shift + Z.

3. To copy the visible range, press Ctrl + C from the keyboard. Some dotted lines appear around the selection, as shown below.

4. Paste the cell to the destination using Ctrl + V command

This will paste only the visible cells and exclude the hidden cells, as you can see from the above screenshot.

There are other methods to perform this, which are discussed in the below sections. 

Also read: How to Select Every Other Row (Alternate Row) in Excel?

Method 2: Select Visible Cells Only Using the Go to Special Dialog Box

Using the shortcut key (Alt + 😉 is a simple and easy way to copy only visible cells in Excel, but if you don’t want to remember the keyboard shortcut, you can do so by using the Go To Special option that is available in the Home tab of the ribbon.

Let me show you with the help of an example where I am going to use the same employee record data where rows 4-7 are hidden, as shown below.

1. Select the range of cells you want to copy.

2. Click on the Home tab in the ribbon

3. In the Home tab, click on the Find & Select option.

4. From the dropdown that gets open select the Go To Special option

This will open the Go To Special dialog box as shown below

5. Click on the option Visible cells only 

6. Click on OK.

In this way, Excel will not follow the default copy-paste mechanism but only copy the visible cell.

7. To copy the selected range press Ctrl + C

8. Select the cell where you want to paste the range and press Ctrl + V 

In this method, I showed you in great detail how you can use the Go To Special option to copy only visible cells.

There is another way you can do so, which is discussed in the below section. 

Also read: Highlight Cells with Formulas in Excel

Method 3: By Adding Select Visible Cells Option to Quick Access Toolbar

The above-discussed methods work perfectly for copying visible cells to the destination, but if you like to make it simpler, you can add the Select Visible Cells option to your Quick Access toolbar.

By doing so, you don’t have to remember the shortcut or the long process discussed in method 2. 

In this method, first, I will explain how you can add a Select Visible Cells option to the toolbar, and then I will show you how you can quickly copy only visible cells using this option.

So follow all the steps to get a complete insight into the whole process.

a) Add the Select Visible Cells option to Quick Access Toolbar

1. Click on the Customizable Quick Access Toolbar option

2. From the dropdown that gets open, choose More Commands option 

This will open Excel Options as shown below 

3. Click on the ‘Choose commands from’ option

4. From the drop-down that gets opens, choose the “All Commands” option

This will show all the commands in Excel

5. Scroll down the command’s list and choose the Select Visible Cells option.

6. Click on Add

7. Then click on OK

This will add the Select Visible Cells option to the toolbar as shown below

b) Copy Visible Cell using the Select Visible Cells option

In the first part of this method, I showed you how you could add the Select Visible Cells option to your Quick Access Toolbar.

Now I will show you how you can employ this option to copy only visible cells just in a single click.

I am going to use the same dataset that is used in method 1 and method 2, where rows 4-7 are hidden.

1. Select the data that you want to copy.

2. Click on the Select Visible Cells icon in the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT)

3. Copy the data using Ctrl + C

4. Paste the data to the destination using Ctrl + V

This will only paste only the visible cell and exclude the hidden ones as shown in the above screenshot. 

Tip: In the first part of this method, I also showed you how you could add the Select Visible Cells command to this Quick Access Toolbar. Similarly, you can also add any other command using the same process. Just look for the required command in the command’s list and add it using the procedure discussed in the above method.

If you’re a heavy Excel user, I am sure you will soon encounter this situation where you only need to select the visible cells (and not the hidden ones).

In this tutorial, I have discussed all the methods you can use to copy visible cells only.

I am personally a big fan of the keyboard shortcut, but in case you don’t want to burden yourself with yet another shortcut, you can add the select visible cells only icon in the Quick Access Toolbar and get this done with a single click.

Other Excel articles you may also like:

• How to Select Non-adjacent Cells in Excel?
• Select Row (or Rows) in Excel (Shortcut)
• How to Swap Cells in Excel
• How to Select Rows with Specific Text in Excel
• How to Select Multiple Items from a Drop Down in Excel?
• How to Select Multiple Rows in Excel
• How to Select Alternate Columns in Excel (or every Nth Column)
• How to Select Every Other Cell in Excel (Or Every Nth Cell)
• How to Paste in a Filtered Column Skipping the Hidden Cells