Remove all filters at once from your spreadsheet

When you have applied filters to your Excel spreadsheet and want to see all your data again without any restrictions, you clear the filters. This shows every row and column you hid, and removes the filter buttons from your headers. The fastest way is to select your data range, go to the Data menu, and click Clear.

Excel stores filter settings even after you clear them, so you can reapply the same filters later if you need them. Clearing filters does not delete any data — it only removes the view restrictions you set up.

Key Takeaways

  • The Data menu has a Clear button that removes all active filters from your selected data in one click.
  • You must select your data range first, or Excel will not know which filters to clear.
  • Clearing filters shows all hidden rows and columns but does not change or delete any of your actual data.
  • If you only want to reset the filter settings without removing the filter buttons, use Reset Filter instead of Clear.
  • You can also turn off filters entirely by clicking the filter button in the header row, which removes the dropdown arrows.

Select your data before clearing filters

Excel needs to know which data range contains your filters. Click any cell inside the table or range that has filters applied. You do not need to select the entire range — clicking a single cell inside it is enough, because Excel recognizes the data boundaries automatically.

If your spreadsheet has multiple separate tables with filters, click inside the table you want to clear. Excel will only affect the table that contains your active cell.

Use the Data menu to clear all filters

Once you have clicked a cell in your filtered data, open the Data menu at the top of the screen. Look for the Clear option — it usually appears near the filter buttons. Click Clear, and Excel will remove all filters from that data range when ready.

Your spreadsheet will now show every row and column. The filter dropdown arrows may still appear in your header row, but they are no longer active. If you want to remove the dropdown arrows entirely, go back to the Data menu and click Filter to toggle it off.

The difference between Clear and Reset Filter

Clear removes all your filter settings and shows every row. Reset Filter clears the current filter choices but keeps the filter buttons active and ready to use again. Use Reset Filter when you want to start fresh with the same filters but see all data temporarily.

If you click Reset Filter and then reopen a filter dropdown, you will see all your original filter options available again. This is useful when you have applied several filters and want to remove them all at once without turning off the filter feature itself.

Turn off filter buttons completely

If you want to remove the filter dropdown arrows from your header row, click the Data menu and click Filter again. This toggles the filter feature off entirely. The filter buttons disappear, and your spreadsheet looks like a normal table without any filter controls.

Turning off the filter feature does not delete your data or your previous filter settings. If you turn filters back on later by clicking Data and then Filter again, Excel will remember your last filter configuration.

What to do if Clear is grayed out

If the Clear button appears grayed out or inactive, it means either no filters are currently applied to your data, or you have not selected a cell inside a filtered range. Click a cell in the table that has filter buttons, and the Clear option should become available.

Another reason Clear might be inactive is if you are in edit mode — you have clicked inside a cell and started typing. Press Escape to exit edit mode, then try the Data menu again.

Clearing filters in older versions of Excel

In Excel 2007 and later, the process is the same: click your data, open Data, and click Clear. In much older versions, you may see Reset Filter instead of Clear, which does the same thing — it removes all active filters and shows all rows.

If you are using a very old version and cannot find these options, look for Filter in the Data menu and click it to toggle filters off. This removes the filter buttons and shows all your data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does clearing filters delete my data?

No. Clearing filters only removes the view restrictions. All your data remains in the spreadsheet exactly as it was. You are just removing the hidden rows and showing everything again.

Can I undo a filter clear if I change my mind?

Yes. Press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) when ready after clearing to undo the action and restore your previous filter settings. If you have done other work since clearing, undo will reverse those actions too.

What if I only want to clear one filter, not all of them?

Click the dropdown arrow in the column header of the filter you want to remove. Select Clear Filter From [Column Name]. This removes only that one filter while keeping your other filters active.

Will clearing filters affect my formulas or calculations?

No. Clearing filters shows hidden rows, but it does not change any formulas, calculations, or data values. Formulas that reference filtered data will now include the previously hidden rows in their calculations.

How do I clear filters from multiple tables at once?

You must clear each table separately. Click a cell in the first table, clear its filters, then click a cell in the next table and clear those filters. Excel treats each table as a separate range.