How to Delete a Chart in Google Sheets

Removing a chart you no longer need in Google Sheets is a straightforward task you can do in just a few clicks. Whether your old visualization is cluttering up a data tab or you need to start fresh, this guide will show you exactly how to delete any chart on both desktop and mobile devices. We will also cover how to recover a chart you deleted by mistake and address common troubleshooting issues.

How to Delete a Chart in Google Sheets on a Computer

The quickest way to remove a chart is on a desktop or laptop computer using your browser. Google Sheets provides a couple of simple methods to get this done.

Method 1: Click and Press Delete

This is the fastest and most common way to delete a chart. It’s as simple as deleting text or any other object.

1. Navigate to the sheet that contains the chart you want to remove.
2. Click once anywhere on the chart object. You will know it's selected when a blue border appears around it.
3. Once selected, simply press the Delete key or the Backspace key on your keyboard.

The chart will immediately disappear from your spreadsheet. This action only removes the visual chart itself, all the source data in your cells will remain untouched.

Method 2: Use the Chart Menu

If you prefer using your mouse over keyboard shortcuts, you can also delete a chart through its own menu.

1. Click on the chart you want to delete to select it.
2. In the upper-right corner of the selected chart, you’ll see an icon with three vertical dots (⋮). This is the chart's menu.
3. Click the three-dot menu icon to open a dropdown list of options.
4. Select "Delete chart" from the list.

Just like with the keyboard method, the chart will be removed instantly. This is a great alternative if your keyboard isn't accessible or if you are already in the menu to make other changes.

How to Delete a Chart Using the Google Sheets Mobile App

Deleting a chart from your phone or tablet is just as easy, though the steps are slightly different from the desktop experience.

For Both Android and iOS

The process is nearly identical for both major mobile operating systems.

1. Open the Google Sheets app and navigate to your desired spreadsheet.
2. Find the chart you wish to remove.
3. Tap the chart once to select it. You'll see a blue border or handles appear around it, confirming your selection.
4. With the chart selected, tap it again. A small context menu will appear with options like "Cut," "Copy," "Paste," and "Delete."
5. Tap Delete.

Your chart will vanish from the sheet. Just like with the desktop version, your underlying data is safe and will not be impacted by deleting the chart.

Troubleshooting and Common Questions

Sometimes you run into small hiccups. Here are answers to a few common issues and questions people face when managing charts in Google Sheets.

"I Accidentally Deleted a Chart! Can I Restore It?"

Yes, you can! We've all accidentally deleted something important. Thankfully, Google Sheets makes it very easy to undo a mistake.

• On a Computer: The moment you realize your mistake, use the universal "undo" keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Z (on Windows) or Cmd + Z (on Mac). You can also click the undo arrow icon in the main toolbar at the top-left of your screen. Your chart will instantly reappear in its original position.
• On Mobile: In the Google Sheets app, undo and redo arrows are located in the top bar. A single tap on the undo arrow will bring your deleted chart right back.

Timing is important. The undo function works for your most recent actions, so try to use it as soon as you realize the error.

"Does Deleting My Chart Also Delete My Data?"

This is a common fear for many users, but you can rest easy. Deleting a chart in Google Sheets never, ever deletes the source data used to create it.

Think of a chart as a picture or a visual summary of your data. The data lives in the worksheet cells, and the chart is just a separate object that reads from those cells. When you delete the chart, you're only removing the "picture." Your neatly organized rows and columns of numbers remain exactly as they were, ready to be used for a new chart or a different analysis.

"I Can't Select or Delete the Chart. What's Happening?"

Few things are more frustrating than a UI element that won’t respond. If you're clicking on a chart and can't select or delete it, one of a few things is likely happening:

• Protected Sheets or Ranges: The most common culprit is a protected sheet. If the owner of the spreadsheet has protected the sheet or specific range where the chart resides, you might not have permission to edit it. You would need to ask the owner to grant you editing permissions or unprotect the sheet. You can check this by going to Data > Protected sheets and ranges.
• Chart is an Image: In some rare cases, what looks like a chart might actually be a static image (a screenshot) pasted into the sheet. Native Google Sheets charts have a visible blue border and the three-dot menu when selected. If you don't see those, it's likely an image, which you can still select and delete just like a normal chart object.
• Browser or App Glitch: Technology isn't perfect. Sometimes a simple refresh of your browser tab (or restarting the mobile app) can solve responsiveness issues.

"How Do I Delete Multiple Charts at Once?"

If you have several charts on one sheet that you want to remove, you don't have to delete them one by one. On a computer, you can select multiple objects at once.

1. Click on the first chart you want to delete.
2. Hold down the Ctrl key (on Windows) or the Cmd key (on Mac).
3. While holding the key down, click on the other charts you want to remove. You'll see each one get a blue selection border.
4. Once all the desired charts are selected, release the key and press Delete or Backspace.

This bulk-delete trick can save you a significant amount of time when cleaning up a busy dashboard or report.

Better Chart Management: Avoiding Deletion Altogether

Often, we delete charts because they are simply in the way. A better long-term strategy is to organize your reports so that everything has a clean and logical place to live. When your spreadsheets are well-organized, you'll find you rarely need to delete essential charts.

Create a Dedicated "Dashboard" Tab

A best practice used by data professionals is to separate raw data from data visualizations. Instead of putting your charts on the same tab as the thousands of rows that feed them, create a brand-new tab specifically for your charts.

1. Create a new sheet by clicking the "+" icon in the bottom-left corner.
2. Double-click the new sheet's tab and rename it "Dashboard," "Summary," or "Report."
3. Cut (Ctrl + X or Cmd + X) your charts from your data sheets and paste (Ctrl + V or Cmd + V) them into your new Dashboard tab.

This workflow keeps your raw data tabs purely for data entry and manipulation, and provides your team with a single, clean location to view all key performance indicators.

Edit Your Chart Instead of Rebuilding It

Before deleting a chart and starting over, consider modifying the existing one. You can change almost anything about a chart after it's been created.

Double-click on any chart to open the Chart editor sidebar. From here you can:

• Change the chart type (e.g., from a pie chart to a bar chart).
• Adjust the data range to include new rows or columns.
• Update titles, labels, colors, and fonts to match your branding.

Final Thoughts

Deleting a chart in Google Sheets is simple whether you're on a computer or using the mobile app. With the ability to easily undo mistakes and the knowledge that your source data is always safe, you can manage your reports with confidence. The best approach, however, often involves organizing your charts onto a dedicated dashboard tab to keep your datasheets clean and easy to navigate.

Manually building, organizing, and cleaning up charts in spreadsheets is often a sign of a time-consuming reporting process. This recurring workload - downloading data, formatting it in sheets, and creating visualizations just to answer a basic question - is something we’ve worked hard to automate. For those situations, we designed Graphed to connect directly to data sources like Google Analytics, Shopify, and HubSpot, allowing you to build entire real-time dashboards just by describing what you want to see. Instead of fiddling with individual charts, you can get instant, always-up-to-date answers and visuals in seconds.