Because the shortcut depends on more than Excel. On Windows, the Ctrl+Shift+0 key combination is often taken by a keyboard-switching hotkey, so Windows grabs it before Excel sees it. It also fails if the selection does not span the hidden column, or if the sheet is protected.
The fastest fix is to skip the shortcut and use the right-click menu, covered below. If you want the shortcut back, you can free it up in Windows settings.
Why the shortcut fails
- A Windows hotkey is in the way. Exceljet says that in Windows 10 a keyboard-switching shortcut conflicts with this one, and that unassigning the keyboard layout hotkey fixes it. You may also need to unassign the input language hotkey.
- Your selection is wrong. Unhiding only works if the selection runs across the hidden column. If column D is hidden, select columns C and E together, or select the whole sheet.
- The sheet is protected. Worksheet protection can block formatting, hiding and unhiding columns.
- It may not be an official shortcut. In a Microsoft Q&A thread, the accepted answer could find only the hide shortcut (Ctrl+0) in Microsoft’s own shortcut list, not an unhide one. Many third-party sites still list Ctrl+Shift+0, and it works on many machines, but it is not guaranteed.
Free up the shortcut in Windows
Exceljet describes the steps like this. The menu names differ between Windows versions, so look for the same options if yours looks different.
- Open the Windows language and keyboard settings, then Advanced Keyboard Settings.
- Open the option for changing the key sequence used to switch input languages or keyboard layouts.
- Set the keyboard layout hotkey to Not Assigned. Do the same for the input language hotkey if the shortcut still fails.
- Return to Excel, select the columns on both sides of the hidden one, and try Ctrl+Shift+0 again.
Exceljet also reports that after a Windows update the shortcut can stop working again, and that assigning a hotkey and then unassigning it sometimes brings it back. The author notes that this trick did not work for them in February 2022, so treat it as hit and miss.
Unhide columns without the shortcut
- Select the column letters on both sides of the hidden column. For hidden column D, click C, then Shift-click E.
- Right-click one of the selected column letters.
- Choose Unhide.
You can also use the ribbon: select the columns, then go to Home, Format, Hide & Unhide, Unhide Columns.
If column A is hidden
There is no column to the left to select. Type A1 in the Name Box (left of the formula bar) and press Enter, then use Home, Format, Hide & Unhide, Unhide Columns. Alternatively, click the select-all corner above the row numbers and right-click any column letter, then choose Unhide.
Still not working?
- Check Review, Unprotect Sheet. If it is protected, you need the password or the owner’s permission.
- A column can also look hidden because its width is set very small. Drag its border wider or set a column width from the Format menu.
- Try the same steps in a new workbook. If the shortcut works there, the problem is in that file, not in Windows.
Sources
- Exceljet: Unhide columns shortcut
- Microsoft Q&A: Ctrl + Shift + 0 does not unhide columns
- Excel at Finance: Fix the Ctrl+Shift+0 shortcut
Last checked: 18 October 2026