Freeze header rows and columns in Excel

When a list is longer than the window, the header row scrolls off the screen and it’s easy to enter data in the wrong column. Freeze Panes keeps those headers visible.

1. Select the cell below the rows you want to keep and to the right of the columns you want to keep. To freeze the top row and the first column, select cell B2.
2. Go to the View tab > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes.
3. To freeze only the top row or only the first column, use Freeze Top Row or Freeze First Column in that same menu.

A thin line shows where the freeze starts. Scroll to confirm the headers stay put.

To turn it off, go to View > Freeze Panes > Unfreeze Panes. You can’t add a second freeze in the same sheet; unfreeze first, then set it again.

This only affects how you view the sheet. It doesn’t lock cells from editing. Use Protect Sheet if you need that.

Sources checked

• Freeze panes to lock rows and columns