How to Freeze Panes in Excel

When you scroll down a big table, the headings scroll away too. Freeze Panes keeps chosen rows or columns in view while the rest of the sheet scrolls.

Freeze the top row

1. On the View tab, click Freeze Panes, then Freeze Top Row.

   

2. Scroll down: the top row stays in place, with a thin line below it.

   

Unfreeze panes

1. On the View tab, click Freeze Panes.

2. Click Unfreeze Panes.

   

Freeze the first column

1. On the View tab, click Freeze Panes.

2. Click Freeze First Column.

   

3. Scroll right: column A stays in place, with a thin line beside it.

   

Freeze several rows

1. Select the row below the last row you want to freeze. To freeze rows 1 to 4, select row 5.

2. On the View tab, click Freeze Panes, then Freeze Panes.

   

3. Rows 1 to 4 now stay in view.

   

Freeze several columns

1. Select the column to the right of the last column you want to freeze. To freeze columns A and B, select column C.

2. On the View tab, click Freeze Panes, then Freeze Panes.

   

3. Columns A and B now stay in view.

   

Freeze rows and columns together

1. Select the cell just below and to the right of the area you want to freeze. Selecting D5 freezes rows 1 to 4 and columns A to C.

2. On the View tab, click Freeze Panes, then Freeze Panes.

   

3. Everything above row 5 and left of column D stays in view.

   

Add a one-click Freeze Panes button

If you freeze panes often, add the command to the Quick Access Toolbar.

1. Click the small down arrow at the end of the Quick Access Toolbar.

2. Click More Commands.

   

3. Under Choose commands from, select Commands Not in the Ribbon.

4. Select Freeze Panes and click Add.

   

5. Click OK.

   

Now one click freezes the panes based on the cell you’ve selected.