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How to Freeze Panes in Excel

Tap each step to follow along in order.

  1. Select the reference cell

    Click the cell just below and to the right of the row and column you want to freeze (for example, B2).

  2. Open the "View" tab

    Click the View tab on the ribbon.

  3. Click "Freeze Panes"

    In the Window group, select "Freeze Panes β†’ Freeze Panes."

  4. Freeze only the top row or first column

    Choosing "Freeze Top Row" or "Freeze First Column" lets you lock just that part with a single click.

  5. Unfreeze panes

    Select "Unfreeze Panes" from the same menu to return to the normal scrolling view.

When headers disappear as you scroll a long table

Scrolling down through a large spreadsheet quickly makes it hard to remember which column is which, since the header row vanishes off the top of the screen. Freeze panes keeps the header row or a key column locked in place on screen no matter how far you scroll.

Check out cell merging too

Merging cells is another common formatting task when cleaning up a spreadsheet layout, and it pairs naturally with freeze panes when you are organizing a large table for readability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze rows and columns at the same time?

Yes. Select the cell just past the intersection of the row and column you want frozen, then apply Freeze Panes β€” it will lock both the row above and the column to the left simultaneously.

Does freeze panes also apply when printing?

No, freeze panes only affects the on-screen view. To repeat a header row on every printed page, you need to set that separately under Page Layout β†’ Print Titles.