Filtering: show only what you need
7 minutes · 4 steps · free, no sign-up
Real sheets get long. Filtering lets you look at just the rows you care about, such as only the tasks that are done or only one team, without deleting or moving anything. The hidden rows are still there and come back the moment you clear the filter.
- Turn a filter on for a table
- Show only the rows that match a value
- Switch to a different filter
- Clear the filter to see everything again
Click a cell and start typing. Enter edits, Tab moves right, arrows move, Delete clears.
Quick referenceHow it works
Filter on adds a small arrow to each header cell
Arrow > tick choose which values to show
Clear shows every row again
Header row the first row is never filtered awayThe key ideasSummary: Filtering: show only what you need
A filter hides rows, it does not remove them. Hidden rows keep their data, and any formula that uses them still sees them, which is different from a formula that deliberately skips them. The filter looks at one column at a time and keeps the rows whose value you ticked.
Filtering changes only what you see, so it is safe to try. Sorting (the previous lesson) rearranges rows. Filtering hides them. You will often use both on the same table.
Watch out forCommon mistakes
- Thinking filtered rows are deleted. They are only hidden. Clear the filter to see them again.
- Forgetting a filter is on. If a total looks too small or rows seem to be missing, check for a filter. The arrow turns green when a column is filtered.
- Filtering a table with blank rows in it. A completely blank row can cut your table in two, so only the part above it is filtered. Keep tables unbroken.
- Expecting SUM to follow the filter.
SUMstill adds the hidden rows. TheSUBTOTALfunction respects filters; you will meet it later.
Next stepTry it in the real Google Sheets
In Google Sheets select your table and choose Data → Create a filter. You can filter by value, by condition (for example, greater than 50) or by colour. Filter views let you save a filter without changing what other people see.