The 4 BEST Ways To Add or Remove Gridlines in Google Sheets (including ALT + W + V + G Shortcut)

Creating a clean and presentable spreadsheet is good hygiene for anyone, but a requirement for professionals. However, many who are used to Excel's keyboard shortcut functionality struggle to transfer their skills when required to use Google Sheets. One simple Excel keyboard shortcut that is challenging to replicate in Google Sheets is adding or removing gridlines (Alt + W + V+ G in Excel). Removing gridlines in particular is a basic and often the first step in creating a clean spreadsheet. When first using Google Sheets, it’s not obvious how to quickly do this 

In this article, I’ll discuss 4 ways how you can add and remove gridlines in Google Sheets, including by using the Alt + W + V + G Excel shortcut:

1. Use your mouse

2. Use the Alt + W + V + G Excel shortcut using a free tool like SheetWhiz (shortcuts can be customized as well!)

3. Use Google’s shortcut (only works on PCs)

4. Search using the Search Bar shortcut

Out of the three options above, I would recommend using SheetWhiz to add/remove gridlines for several reasons: 

1. It matches the Excel shortcut exactly

2. Shortcuts can be customized

3. It works for everyone - PC or Mac

4. You can use it for free!

As a best practice, if you are on a PC, I would recommend using SheetWhiz in conjunction with “Enable compatibility shortcuts” which should give you the most Excel-like experience in Sheets. Learn how to enable compatibility shortcuts here

Option 1: Use Your Mouse

Step 1: Navigate to Menu Bar

Step 2: Select View

Step 3: Select Show

Step 4: Select Gridlines

Note: You must keep your mouse hovering over the drop-down menu or you will have to restart the process

For those working on several projects each requiring multiple sheets, this takes a significant amount of time, especially if you stop hovering over the drop-down menu, you have to restart the process. 

[Recommended] Option 2: Use Alt+W+V+G Shortcut with SheetWhiz

As a better alternative, you can use SheetWhiz to add/remove gridlines. Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Install the SheetWhiz Chrome Extension for free

Step 2: Load a Sheet and the SheetWhiz logo will appear

Step 3: Use the shortcut ALT + W + V + G to remove the gridlines. Press it again to add the gridlines back. Make sure you release each key before pressing the next key, just like you would in Excel.

Note: The default command to run gridlines is ALT + W + V + G on a PC and Option + W + V + G on a Mac, which is the same as the Excel shortcut for adding and removing gridlines. You can also change the keys for this AND any other shortcut to one works for you by clicking the button in the SheetWhiz menu and changing the key!

Option 3: Use Google’s Shortcut (PC's Only)

For those using a PC, you can use Google's built in add/remove gridlines shortcut. The shortcut that works depends on the settings of your Google Sheet. Unfortunately we are writing this on a Mac so we don't have a good way to create a GIF to illustrate this - but it'll work similar to Option 2

If you have “Enable Compatible Shortcuts” turned on, you can use ALT + W, V, G to trigger the shortcut (see steps below). If you don’t have this setting turned on, you can use ALT + V, S, G. In this instance vs. elsewhere in the article, the plus sign (+) indicates pressing and holding keys together while a comma (,) indicates press and releasing keys. This is because all Google shortcuts beginning with ALT must be pressed and released with the next key in order for these shortcuts to work

This means that although these options are provided natively, it may take some effort to remember to hold ALT and Press W if you are used to Excel shortcuts.

Steps to trigger add/remove gridlines via shortcut with “Enable Compatible Shortcuts” turned ON: 

Step 1: Hold ALT and Press W

Step 2: Release Both, and Press V

Step 3: Release V, and Press G

Steps to trigger add/remove gridlines via shortcut with “Enable Compatible Shortcuts” turned OFF: 

Step 1: Hold ALT and Press V

Step 2: Release Both, and Press S

Step 3: Release V, and Press G

Option 4: Use the Search Bar

Finally, you can also add/remove gridlines by activating the Search Bar in Google Sheets and simply searching for “gridlines”. This should return the option you need to turn gridlines on or off.

Steps to trigger add/remove gridlines without a mouse using the Search bar (works on both PC and Mac): 

Step 1: Hold ALT/Option (if on a Mac) and Press /

Step 2: Search “Gridlines” in the search bar

Step 3: Press Enter / Return (if on a Mac)

For a more swift and Excel-like experience, I would highly recommend using SheetWhiz not just for its basic Excel features, but also for its other functionalities including trace precedents, trace dependents, and cycling functionalities. It’s free to use the gridlines shortcut in the tool and you can test some of the other shortcuts / features that are sure to make you more productive in Google Sheets

Overall, the best approach to using Excel shortcuts in Google Sheets is to unlock some Excel shortcuts by enabling "Enable compatibility shortcuts" and the remaining key Excel shortcuts using  SheetWhiz. Using a combination of approaches will yield the best results as both tools have their pros and cons and knowing where each tool shines is the key to maximizing your productivity in Google Sheets