How to freeze rows and columns

In a long sheet the headings scroll out of view. Freezing rows and columns keeps them on screen while the rest of the sheet moves, so you always know what each column holds.

Step by step

1.Scroll down a long sheet

This example is an invoice list with 60 rows. Scroll down, and the heading row goes out of view, so the columns are no longer labelled. Scrolling is with the mouse wheel, the scroll bar, or a finger on a phone.

An invoice list scrolled down to rows 34 to 52, with no heading row on screen.

2.Choose Freeze Top Row

Open the Data menu and choose Freeze Top Row. The menu also has Freeze First Column for a sheet that is wide.

The Data menu open, with the Freeze Top Row item outlined in red.

3.Scroll with the heading in place

Scroll down again. The first row stays at the top of the grid, with a line under it, and the other rows scroll beneath it. The heading of each column is always visible.

The heading row of the invoice list at the top of the grid while rows 34 to 52 scroll below it, with an arrow pointing at the Amount heading.

4.Freeze up to the active row

To keep several rows on screen, click the first cell below them, such as A4. Open the Data menu and choose Freeze up to row 4. The item shows the number of the row you selected, and it keeps rows 1 to 4 visible.

The Data menu open, with the Freeze up to row 4 item outlined in red.

5.Freeze the first column

A wide sheet can also keep its first column on screen. Choose Freeze First Column from the Data menu, so the names in column A stay in view while you scroll to the right. To keep more columns in view, select a cell in the last column you want to keep on screen, and choose Freeze up to column from the same menu.

The Data menu open, with the Freeze First Column item outlined in red.

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