Pivot Table Magic: Two Ways to Hide Filter Buttons Like a Pro

About Stephanie Hutcheson

Stephanie D. Hutcheson is a seasoned trainer who brings over 30 years of experience to share. She has a BA in Business and a Masters Degree as well as Microsoft, AI and Project Management certifications. Stephanie is not all work! She is an avid tennis, pickleball and golf enthusiast. Between sports and work, she shares her time and resources with Bridges to Community – a non-profit house building group and Habitat for Humanity.

Executive Summary

Learn how to hide filter buttons on Excel Pivot Tables using two powerful methods: the Field Headers toggle in the PivotTable Analyze tab and a VBA macro script. This tutorial is perfect for Excel power users, data analysts, and spreadsheet sorcerers looking to clean up their dashboards.

Why Hide Filter Buttons?

Filter buttons are handy—but sometimes, they clutter your dashboard or invite unwanted clicks. Whether you’re prepping a client-facing report or just love a clean canvas, hiding those little dropdowns can be a game-changer.

For a Detailed PDF with Screen Shots, Click this link

Method 1: Toggle Field Headers via the Ribbon

Navigation Path: PivotTable Analyze Tab > Show Group > Field Headers

Click anywhere inside your Pivot Table.
Go to: PivotTable Analyze Tab > Show Group > Field Headers
Click the “Field Headers” button. Voilà! The filter buttons disappear.

¡IMPORTANT!

This hides all field headers. Filters still work behind the scenes.

Method 2: Use a VBA Macro to Toggle Filter Buttons

Navigation Path: Developer Tab > Code Group > Visual Basic
Then: Insert Tab > Module > Paste the code

Sub TogglePivotFilters()
    Dim pf As PivotField
    For Each pf In ActiveCell.PivotTable.PivotFields
        pf.EnableItemSelection = Not pf.EnableItemSelection
    Next pf
End Sub

Enable the Developer Tab: File Tab > Options > Customize Ribbon > Check “Developer”
Open the VBA Editor: Developer Tab > Code Group > Visual Basic
Insert a Module: Insert Tab > Module
Paste the macro code above.
Run the macro with your cursor inside a Pivot Table cell.

¡IMPORTANT!

This toggles the EnableItemSelection property for each field.

When to Use Each Method

Scenario	Best Method
Quick visual cleanup	Field Headers toggle
Automation or workbook customization	VBA macro
Selective control over filters	VBA macro
Presentation mode	Field Headers toggle

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a dashboard minimalist or a macro maestro, hiding Pivot Table filter buttons is a small tweak with big impact. Try both methods and see which fits your workflow best.