WPS Highlight Rows and Columns on macOS: Introduction

WPS Highlight Rows and Columns on macOS helps you highlight the row and column of the currently selected cell in a spreadsheet; this guide covers 3 core tasks, with 3 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.

At a Glance

Metric	Value	Notes
Core tasks	3	Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index
Available without membership	3	Matches the number of Free rows in the index
Membership-related items	0	Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index

About This Feature

Overview

Highlight Rows and Columns is a spreadsheet viewing aid in WPS Office for macOS. It helps you quickly locate the active cell position when working with large tables, which is useful if you want to highlight rows and columns in WPS on Mac during daily spreadsheet review.

Core capabilities include:

Turn Highlight Rows and Columns on or off: Show or hide the highlight effect for the row and column of the current cell while editing a spreadsheet.
Switch from different entry points: Control the feature from the View tab or the bottom status bar.
Customize the highlight color: Adjust the display color based on your sheet theme and viewing preference.

This feature is useful for data checking, long-sheet browsing, collaborative review, and routine spreadsheet entry. It changes only the on-screen display and does not change cell content.

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
OS	A Mac computer that can run WPS Office
App version	It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office for Mac
Network	No required connection for local use; a network connection is needed for sign-in or file sync
Other	Open a spreadsheet file before using this feature

Download & Installation

Item	Details
Official Download	WPS Office Free Download
Post-install Check	Launch WPS Office, open a spreadsheet, and check whether the Highlight Rows and Columns entry is available in the View tab or the bottom status bar

Source: WPS Download Center

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	Highlights the row and column of the currently selected cell in a spreadsheet, supports switching from the View tab or status bar, and lets you customize the highlight color.	Microsoft support content describes table styles, shading, and banded rows or columns to improve readability, but the cited page does not describe real-time row-and-column highlighting that follows the active cell.	Google Sheets supports conditional formatting for cells, rows, or columns, including custom formulas for full-row formatting, but this is rule-based formatting rather than instant highlighting tied to the current active cell.	Notion table view supports table-based database display, bulk editing, row and column arrangement, and conditional color guidance, but it is centered on database views rather than active-cell row-and-column highlighting in a spreadsheet.	Adobe Acrobat Desktop Help focuses on PDF viewing, editing, forms, and related workflows, and the cited help hub does not present spreadsheet-style active-cell row-and-column highlighting.
WPS Advantages	Advantage: focuses directly on locating the current cell by highlighting both its row and column; Distinct: supports quick switching from two entry points and color customization.	Compared with WPS: Microsoft’s cited capability is more about static table styling and banded formatting, which helps readability but does not emphasize active-cell location.	Compared with WPS: Google Sheets conditional formatting is better suited to rule-based coloring across ranges; for users who want a follow-the-selection visual locator, setup is less direct.	Compared with WPS: Notion is stronger for information organization and database views, while cell-level visual location in a spreadsheet is not its main focus.	Compared with WPS: Adobe’s official desktop help is oriented to PDF workflows rather than spreadsheet editing and row-column location.
Official Source	—	Apply a table style	Use conditional formatting rules in Google Sheets	Table view	Acrobat Desktop Help

Overall Conclusion: For users who need to confirm the current editing position in large spreadsheets, WPS Highlight Rows and Columns is more closely aligned with everyday spreadsheet navigation. Other products provide formatting, table, or document-management features, but their official guidance focuses on different use cases.

Use Cases

#	Scenario	Target Users	Core Pain Point	Solution
1	Browsing large data tables	Finance, operations, and administrative users	It is easy to lose track of the current position in sheets with many rows and columns	Turn on Highlight Rows and Columns to track the selected cell position
2	Data entry and checking	Spreadsheet entry users	It is hard to confirm the current row and column while typing	Use the highlight effect to locate the current cell
3	Adjusting color preference	Users who work in spreadsheets for long periods	The default highlight color may not stand out enough in the current theme	Change the highlight color for clearer display
4	Collaborative review	Team members	Each person needs a clear local viewing experience	Each user can turn the local highlight display on or off as needed
5	Pre-print review	Users preparing output	They want to confirm that the viewing aid does not affect printed results	Use Highlight Rows and Columns for on-screen review while keeping output unchanged

Membership & Benefits

Free vs WPS Premium

Feature	Free User	WPS Member
Highlight Rows and Columns toggle	✅ Available	✅ Available
Custom highlight color	✅ Available	✅ Available
Basic PDF features	✅ Available	✅ Available
More advanced PDF, template, and extended capabilities	Partially limited	Broader access
Cloud storage	1 GB	20 GB

Source: WPS Office pricing page

Recommendations

Use Case	Recommended Plan	Reason
Everyday spreadsheet viewing and location	Free	Highlight Rows and Columns itself has no membership restriction and covers basic use
Users who also need more PDF, template, or cloud storage capabilities	WPS Member	Suitable for users who want broader office capabilities under one account

WPS membership center: Subscribe now