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How to Delete Pivot Tables in Google Sheets and Excel

Let’s say you just realized that the Pivot Table you have created is no longer useful, and you now want to remove it... How can you do so? 

This quick tutorial will help you delete that Pivot Table you no longer need, both in Google Sheets and Excel. 

Deleting a Pivot Table in Google Sheets

In Google Sheets, you can insert the Pivot Table together with its source sheet or to a new sheet. 

Method 1: If your Pivot Table is in its own separate sheet, you can simply delete that sheet to get rid of the Pivot Table.

The drop-down menu appears when you right-click on the Pivot Table in Google Sheets. Highlighted is the Delete option, the first option.
The drop-down menu appears when you right-click on the Pivot Table in Google Sheets. Highlighted is the Delete option, the first option. 

Yes, it’s that simple.

Method 2: If you have added the Pivot Table in a Sheet with important data, you can remove the Pivot Table by clicking on its upper-leftmost cell, then pressing Delete on your keyboard.

The upper-leftmost cell of the Pivot Table highlighted. This is what you have to delete to delete the entire Pivot Table when pressing the Delete button on your keyboard.
The upper-leftmost cell of the Pivot Table highlighted. This is what you have to delete to delete the entire Pivot Table when pressing the Delete button on your keyboard. 


You can do the same technique if you don’t want to remove the sheet where the Pivot Table is located, as in Method 1. You would notice, however, that the gridlines that we are used to seeing in our sheets is still missing. To add them back, click View on the main toolbar then click Gridlines. 

View option on the main menu, drop-down box. Gridlines highlighted. Clicking the Gridlines option returns the familiar gridlines in your sheet.
View option on the main menu, drop-down box. Gridlines highlighted. Clicking the Gridlines option returns the familiar gridlines in your sheet. 

Deleting a PivotTable in Excel

Deleting a PivotTable in Excel requires an extra step. Click on any cell inside the PivotTable, then press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac), then press Delete on your keyboard. Now the PivotTable is gone. 

The PivotTable in Excel highlighted.
The PivotTable in Excel highlighted. 

If Ctrl+A won’t work, you can click the Analyze tab in the toolbar above, then click Select, then click Entire PivotTable.

PivotTable Tools, Analyze tab, Select option selected, Entire PivotTable highlighted.
PivotTable Tools, Analyze tab, Select option selected, Entire PivotTable highlighted. 


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Trigger
Action
Select trigger
When a cell value in Google Sheets changes
Check Google Sheets for today's date
When a new row is added to Google Sheets
On new Google Form submission
Send me a daily reminder
On new Typeform submission
When a cell value in database changes
Check database for today's date
When a new row is added in database
When a new HubSpot customer is created
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ADDCALENDAREVENT
Creates a one- or multiple-day calendar event with optional attendees
ADDHUBSPOT
Adds an object to Hubspot
ADDSLACKCHANNEL
Create a Slack channel, and optionally add a topic or members
CALLURL
Makes any HTTP request
CREATEGOOGLEDOC
Replaces [@column_name] values in a Google Doc with the corresponding table row's values
CREATEPDF
Replaces [@column_name] values in a Google Doc with the corresponding table row's values, then export it as a PDF
FETCH
Makes any HTTP request and returns the response
INSERTROWS
Inserts given array below defined values in given worksheet
SENDGMAIL
Sends an email using your Google account
SENDOUTLOOK
Sends an email using your Microsoft Outlook account
SENDSLACK
Sends a Slack message
SENDSMS
Sends an SMS message using your Twilio account
UPDATECELL
Updates cells with given values
UPDATEHUBSPOT
Updates a property of a Hubspot object
Trigger is required
Action is required
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