Group Columns Shortcut in Google Sheets

Wide sheets with twenty or thirty columns get hard to read. Grouping lets you collapse a chunk of columns into a single bracket, so you only see the columns you’re working on right now.

The keyboard shortcut handles both grouping and ungrouping. Same combo, opposite arrow directions.

It works the same way on rows, just with rows selected instead of columns.

Group Columns Keyboard Shortcut in Google Sheets

Group Columns Keyboard Shortcut (Windows Windows)

Alt + Shift + →

Group Columns Keyboard Shortcut (Mac Mac)

Option + Shift + →

What this shortcut does

With one or more columns selected, the shortcut groups them. A small bracket appears above the column headers with a minus button. Click the minus to collapse the group and hide those columns. A plus replaces it, ready to expand the group again.

To ungroup, select the grouped columns and press the same combo with the LEFT arrow (Alt + Shift + ← on Windows, Option + Shift + ← on Mac).

How to use it (step by step)

  1. Click the letter of the first column you want to group.
  2. Hold Shift and click the letter of the last column (or drag across the column letters).
  3. Press the shortcut. A bracket with a minus button appears above the grouped columns.
  4. Click the minus to collapse. The columns hide, and a plus button appears where the minus was.
  5. Click the plus to expand them again.

Alternative method (right-click menu)

Right-click the selected column letters. Pick “View more column actions” then “Group columns” from the submenu.

The right-click route is more discoverable for someone using grouping for the first time, but slower once the shortcut is in your muscle memory.

Things to watch for

  • Works on rows too. Select rows instead of columns and the bracket appears on the left side of the sheet. The combo is the same.
  • Groups can nest. Group a chunk of columns, then select a subset inside the group and press the shortcut again. You get a second bracket on top of the first, with its own collapse button.
  • Ungrouping uses the Left arrow. Same modifiers, opposite direction. If you ungroup an outer group, inner nested groups stay intact.
  • Collapsed columns are still there. Data, formulas, and references all keep working. Only the on-screen display hides them.

Google Sheets keyboard shortcuts

Related Google Sheets shortcuts: