diff --git a/pandas/io/formats/style.py b/pandas/io/formats/style.py
index 15b2381c40d24..0502e2a2f4395 100644
--- a/pandas/io/formats/style.py
+++ b/pandas/io/formats/style.py
@@ -2689,6 +2689,13 @@ def hide(
 
         Notes
         -----
+        .. warning::
+           This method only works with the output methods ``to_html``, ``to_string``
+           and ``to_latex``.
+
+           Other output methods, including ``to_excel``, ignore this hiding method
+           and will display all data.
+
         This method has multiple functionality depending upon the combination
         of the ``subset``, ``level`` and ``names`` arguments (see examples). The
         ``axis`` argument is used only to control whether the method is applied to row