Filter views vs filters in Google Sheets - Compared

Introduction

Filter views and filters both help you see only the data you want in Google Sheets. Filters change the data view for everyone using the sheet, while filter views let you create your own temporary views without affecting others.

When you want to quickly see only sales from a specific region without changing the sheet for others

When multiple people work on the same sheet and need different filtered views at the same time

When you want to save a filter setup to use again later without reapplying it

When you want to share a link to a filtered view without changing the main data

When you want to explore data without risking changing what others see

Steps

Step 1: Click

- Data menu > Create a filter

Filter icons appear in the header row of your data columns

💡 This filter affects everyone viewing the sheet

Step 2: Click

- Filter icon in a column header

A menu opens with filter options like sorting and condition filters

💡 Choose values or conditions to show only matching rows

Step 3: Click

- Data menu > Filter views > Create new filter view

A black border appears around the sheet and a filter view toolbar shows

💡 This filter view is private to you and does not affect others

Step 4: Click

- Filter icon in a column header within the filter view

Filter options appear to set conditions or select values for this view

💡 You can save multiple filter views for different purposes

Step 5: Click

- X button on the filter view toolbar

Filter view closes and the sheet returns to the default view

💡 Your filter view is saved and can be reopened anytime

Before vs After

Before

Sheet shows all 100 rows of sales data with no filters applied

After

Using a filter, only 20 rows with sales from the East region are visible to everyone

Settings Reference

Create a filter

📍 Data menu > Create a filter

Turn on filters that affect all users viewing the sheet

Default: Off

Create new filter view

📍 Data menu > Filter views > Create new filter view

Create private filter views that do not affect others

Default: No filter views

Filter conditions

📍 Filter icon menu in column header

Choose which rows to show based on column data

Default: Show all

Common Mistakes

Using a filter when multiple people need different views

Filters change the view for everyone, causing confusion if others want to see different data

Use filter views to create private filtered views for each user

Not closing a filter view after use

You might think the filter is off, but the filter view is still active and limits data shown

Click the X on the filter view toolbar to close it and return to the full data view

Trying to save a filter setup using the normal filter

Filters do not save setups; they reset when you turn them off

Use filter views to save and reuse filter setups

Summary

Filters change the data view for everyone using the sheet.

Filter views let you create private, saved filtered views without affecting others.

Use filter views when multiple people need different filtered data at the same time.