Removing a filter shows all your rows again

When you filter a spreadsheet in Excel, you hide rows that don't match what you're looking for. To see everything again, you clear the filter. This is different from deleting data — clearing a filter just unhides the rows you temporarily hid.

The fastest way is to click the Data tab at the top of Excel, then click Clear in the Sort & Filter group. This removes all filters from your sheet at once. If you want to clear only one column's filter while keeping others active, click the filter arrow in that column's header and select Clear Filter From [Column Name].

Key Takeaways

  • Click the Data tab, then Clear to remove all filters and show every row in your spreadsheet.
  • To clear only one column's filter, click the dropdown arrow in that column's header and choose Clear Filter From [Column Name].
  • Clearing a filter unhides rows but does not delete any data.
  • If you don't see filter arrows in your header row, click any cell in your data and go to Data > Filter to turn filtering on.
  • You can also right-click a filtered column header and select Clear Filter to remove just that column's filter.

Using the Data tab to clear all filters at once

The Data tab is where Excel keeps all its sorting and filtering tools. Once you've clicked into your spreadsheet, click the Data tab at the top of the window. Look for the Sort & Filter group — it's usually on the left side of the ribbon.

Inside that group, you'll see a button labeled Clear. Click it, and Excel removes every filter you've set up. All the rows you hid come back when ready. This is the quickest way if you've filtered multiple columns and want to start fresh.

Clearing a single column's filter

Sometimes you want to keep one filter active but remove another. Click the small dropdown arrow in the header of the column you want to clear. This arrow appears next to the column name when filtering is turned on.

A menu pops up. At the top, you'll see an option that says Clear Filter From [Column Name] — the column name changes depending on which column you clicked. Click that option, and only that column's filter disappears. Any other filters you set stay in place.

If you don't see the dropdown arrow in your column header, filtering might not be turned on. Click any cell in your data, go to the Data tab, and click Filter to turn it on.

Right-click method for clearing a single filter

You can also right-click directly on a column header to clear its filter. Right-click the header of the column you want to clear, and a menu appears. Look for Clear Filter or Clear Filter From [Column Name] and click it.

This method works the same way as using the dropdown arrow — it clears only that one column's filter. Use whichever method feels faster to you. Some people find right-clicking easier than hunting for the small dropdown arrow.

What happens when you clear a filter

Clearing a filter is completely safe. It only unhides rows; it doesn't change, move, or delete any data. If you filtered to show only sales from January and then cleared that filter, all the other months reappear exactly as they were.

The numbers in your cells don't change. The order of your rows goes back to whatever it was before you filtered. If you sorted your data at the same time you filtered it, clearing the filter doesn't undo the sort — your rows stay in the sorted order.

Turning filtering on if you don't see filter arrows

Filter arrows appear in your header row only when filtering is turned on. If you don't see them, click any cell inside your data range, then go to the Data tab and click Filter. Excel adds a dropdown arrow to every column header.

Once filtering is on, you can click those arrows to filter individual columns. You can also clear filters using the methods above. Turning filtering on doesn't change your data — it just adds the tools you need to hide and show rows.

Clearing filters in older versions of Excel

If you're using Excel 2007 or 2010, the steps are the same. Click the Data tab, then look for Clear in the Sort & Filter group. In very old versions of Excel (2003 and earlier), go to Data in the menu bar and click Filter, then Reset Filter or Show All.

The exact button names changed over the years, but the idea is always the same: find the Data menu, then look for an option that says Clear, Reset, or Show All. If you're unsure which version you have, look at the top of your window — it usually says "Excel 2019" or "Excel 365" or similar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does clearing a filter delete my data?

No. Clearing a filter only unhides rows you temporarily hid. All your data stays exactly as it was. You can clear and reapply filters as many times as you want without losing anything.

Can I undo clearing a filter?

Yes. Press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) right after you clear a filter, and Excel puts the filter back. This works as long as you haven't made other changes since clearing it.

What's the difference between clearing a filter and deleting filtered rows?

Clearing a filter unhides hidden rows. Deleting filtered rows actually removes them from your spreadsheet permanently. To delete, you have to select the hidden rows, right-click, and choose Delete. Clearing just shows everything again.

Why can't I see the Clear button in the Data tab?

The Clear button only appears when at least one filter is active. If you haven't filtered anything yet, the button is grayed out. Click a filter arrow in your header row first, then the Clear button becomes clickable.

If I clear all filters, do I lose my sort order?

No. Clearing filters removes the hidden rows but keeps your sort. If you sorted by date and then filtered by region, clearing the region filter leaves your data sorted by date.