To copy only visible cells in Excel or Google Sheets, use the 'Visible cells only' feature, or apply filters to hide data. We show you how!

Click the "Special" button, select "Visible Cells Only," and then click "OK." Now, only the visible cells are selected. You can also use the "Alt-;" keyboard shortcut to accomplish the same thing.

HOW TO: Select the cells. Go to the HOME ribbon, FIND & SELECT -> GO TO SPECIAL -> VISIBLE CELLS ONLY. Then copy and paste as you would normally.

Before doing anything with the subtotals, you must remember to apply the Visible Cells Only option. If you forget, Excel will apply the format to all of the data cells as well.

Microsoft Excel updates cell references when you copy an expression. Here are a couple of workarounds for those rare occasions when you don't want to change the cell references.

Click the upper-left cell in the range with the border you want to copy. Drag your cursor to the range's lower-right cell, selecting the entire range. Click "Home" on Excel's menu bar.