How to Freeze Rows and Columns in Excel
To freeze the top row in Excel, go to View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Top Row. To freeze several rows and columns at once, select the cell below and to the right of them first, then choose Freeze Panes. Here is exactly how.
Freezing keeps your headers visible while you scroll through a long sheet, so you never lose track of which column is which. Excel handles the top row, the first column, or any block, all from the View tab.
Freeze the top row
Go to the View tab, click Freeze Panes, and choose Freeze Top Row. Row 1 now stays in place as you scroll down. This is the most common choice for tables with a header row.
Freeze the first column
From the same Freeze Panes menu, choose Freeze First Column. Column A stays visible as you scroll right — useful when your labels (names, IDs) are on the left.
Freeze several rows and columns at once
- Click the cell that is just below the rows and just to the right of the columns you want to freeze. For example, to freeze rows 1-2 and column A, click cell B3.
- Go to View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes.
- Everything above and to the left of that cell is now locked in place.
Freezing works beautifully alongside a pivot table or a filtered list. New to Excel? Start with the IF function.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Freeze Panes greyed out?
Freeze Panes is disabled while you are editing a cell or when the sheet is in Page Layout view. Press Enter to finish editing, switch to Normal view, then try again.
Can I freeze rows and print them on every page instead?
Freezing only affects the screen. To repeat header rows on every printed page, use Page Layout > Print Titles > Rows to repeat at top.