In Microsoft Excel 2019, 2016, and , you can freeze rows and columns so that when you scroll, those panes stay in place. This can be handy for header sections so that you can see your headers no matter where you scroll to in the spreadsheet.
Freezing a Row
- Select the row below the row you want to freeze. To select a row, you need to select the entire row on the left side.
- With the row selected, click on the “View” tab at the top, select “Freeze Panes” and you’ll see several different options you can choose:
- “Freeze Panes” will freeze all rows above your selected row.
- “Freeze Top Row” will freeze only the top row no matter what row you currently have selected.
Note: If you don’t see the “Freeze Panes” option, it might be because you already have panes frozen. Select “Unfreeze Panes” to start over.
Freezing a Column
- To freeze a column, or a set of columns, you need to select the column to the right of the column(s) you want to freeze.
- With the column selected, click on the “View” tab at the top, select “Freeze Panes” and you’ll see several different options you can choose:
- “Freeze Panes” will freeze all columns to the left of your selected column.
- “Freeze First Column” will freeze only the left most column no matter what column you currently have selected.
Freezing Columns and Rows
Freezing a column and a row at the same time is a bit trickier unless you only want to freeze the left column and the top row, since those options are there all the time.
- To freeze a set of columns and rows at the same time, click on the cell below and to the right of the panes you want to freeze. For example, if you wanted to freeze column A and row 1, you would select cell B2 since it’s below and to the right of these columns and rows.
- With the proper cell selected, select the “View” tab at the top and click on the “Freeze Panes” button, and select the “Freeze Panes” option in the drop-down.
Unfreeze Panes
To unfreeze your panes at any time, just click on the “View” tab and click the “Freeze Panes” button, then select “Unfreeze Panes“.
Oleksandr says
That was very helpful for me. Now I can continue tracking my sleep & workout & productivity info and have the describes on top, thank you for this post
Kim Wilson says
Thank you so much! It’s so easy to click the first cell below the row and to the right of the column
I really liked the older Excel when you could drag it to where you wanted it, but now that I know this, it’s much easier.
:-)
Beth says
Fixed my issue – thanks for the help!
Alison M says
Did not help; sorry. In a large spreadsheet, the row you wish to place at the top (i.e. right under the header row) can be many hundreds or thousands of rows down. For example, you want to ‘collapse’ previous years’ figures and have the current year start at the top. But you still want to be able to page or scroll up into last year if you need to. ** That is what I need help with, ** yet no-one seems to consider the possibility. One used to be able to do with with Excel 2003 and I’m assuming it’s still possible, somehow.
SLM says
Excellent, thank you for this tip on freezing BOTH row & column!
R says
I am having the same problem – I type and Excel just Freezes the Cells so nothing can be entered and then – under the view – there is no unfreeze button – P8Ss Poor Software .
William Marchesani says
Absolutely NOT.
I’m using Excel for Android, on my Note 4. Froze panes, and now, NOWHERE does it show Unfreeze.
I should have never used a computer like device to track my workout.
Back to pencil and small notepad.